Scruffles
02-12-2006, 12:21 AM
I already posted this on CyberFret, but here I can get some feedback. Please post with any comments suggestions.
The major scale can be harmonized in triads like so:
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
vii°
There is only one triad per note in the major scale, i.e. you can't form both a major chord and minor chord off any root. Harmonic minor, however, lends itself to do that exactly using enharmonics. If you harmonize the harmonic minor scale without using enharmonics, you get:
i
ii°
bIII+
iv
V
bVI
vii°
However, some new chords can be formed by using enharmonics. For example, the iv chord is minor. In C, the notes would be F Ab C. A iv° chord can be formed simply by having the 7 function as the fifth of the chord. In C, this would we F Ab Cb (B). The V chord can also become augmented by having the b3 function as its fifth--G B D# (Eb) in C. A minor chord can be formed off the b6 by using the 7 as the third of the chord--Ab Cb (B) Eb in C. A diminished chord can also be formed off the b6 by having the 7 function as the third of the chord and the 2 function as the fifth of the chord--Ab Cb (B) Ebb (D) in C. The last additional chord that may be formed is the augmented chord formed off the 7 using the b3 as the third of the chord and the 5 as the fifth of the chord--B D# (Eb) F× (G) in C.
Therefore, the harmonic minor scale can actually be harmonized like so:
i
ii°
bIII+
iv, (iv°)
V, (V+)
bVI, (bvi, bvi°)
vii°, (VII+)
Experiment with these chords and see what new ideas you can come up with.
The major scale can be harmonized in triads like so:
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
vii°
There is only one triad per note in the major scale, i.e. you can't form both a major chord and minor chord off any root. Harmonic minor, however, lends itself to do that exactly using enharmonics. If you harmonize the harmonic minor scale without using enharmonics, you get:
i
ii°
bIII+
iv
V
bVI
vii°
However, some new chords can be formed by using enharmonics. For example, the iv chord is minor. In C, the notes would be F Ab C. A iv° chord can be formed simply by having the 7 function as the fifth of the chord. In C, this would we F Ab Cb (B). The V chord can also become augmented by having the b3 function as its fifth--G B D# (Eb) in C. A minor chord can be formed off the b6 by using the 7 as the third of the chord--Ab Cb (B) Eb in C. A diminished chord can also be formed off the b6 by having the 7 function as the third of the chord and the 2 function as the fifth of the chord--Ab Cb (B) Ebb (D) in C. The last additional chord that may be formed is the augmented chord formed off the 7 using the b3 as the third of the chord and the 5 as the fifth of the chord--B D# (Eb) F× (G) in C.
Therefore, the harmonic minor scale can actually be harmonized like so:
i
ii°
bIII+
iv, (iv°)
V, (V+)
bVI, (bvi, bvi°)
vii°, (VII+)
Experiment with these chords and see what new ideas you can come up with.