Everyone Hates Piano Harmony Theory - I'll show you why it's great
Harmony theory. Probably the most hated term from music class. Ha! But it’s just a system from classical music theory. Why is it worth studying? Because afterwards you can play like a young god. Free and detached from rigid instructions in the form of sheet music.
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Gordon November
Gordon November
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In this post, I’ll show you why harmony theory isn’t bad at all. And that it can do much more than you might think. Plus: You’ll learn the theory to use harmony in your music. Even as an absolute beginner or piano novice.
Are you ready? Then buckle up and join me on a musical journey of discovery. You’ll learn:
- how you, as a beginner, can play anything with the help of harmony theory
- what tonic, dominant, and subdominant are
- why harmony theory makes you a better pianist or a great musician
Introduction to Harmony Theory: What is it? And do I even need it?
There are some monsters we fear for no reason. Like the evil boogeyman who suddenly stands by the bed at night. Boo!
It’s good that this childish fear of dark figures and the night disappears with age. But there are also fears that remain, even though they are completely irrational. The fear of harmony theory is one of them.
Let me take away this fear.
Harmony theory is just a clunky term from music theory. The principle behind it is super simple. And quickly explained.
Simple Definition of Harmony Theory
Harmony theory is the study of the relationship between different notes. We look at how different combinations of chords evoke different moods in people.
Harmony theory thus deals with the relationship between notes. It examines to what extent notes sound good or bad together (consonance/dissonance), which combination of notes is called a chord, and how chords are harmoniously strung together (chord progressions).
Okay, in short: Harmony theory tells us which notes and which chords work well together. Meaning they sound pleasant – and are not perceived as off-key.
Harmony Theory = Scale Degree Theory
Let’s go – pun intended – one step further to scale degree theory. This, by the way, goes back to Jacob Gottfried Weber, who passed away at the beginning of the 19th century.
In the spirit of harmony theory, it’s a powerful tool if you want to analyze the harmony of a piece of music. Or simply want to play harmonious songs intuitively. That’s my favorite form of making music.
But what exactly does this scale degree theory do?
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Scale degree theory is your blueprint for the harmonic structure of a song. It allows you to compare songs and pieces, to look beyond the jumble of notes, and to transpose a piano piece to a different key.
And here’s how it works:
The starting point is a scale – for example, in C major From it, you can directly read the tonal material. Now, build a chord over each note of your scale – and you’re already in the thick of it.
Scale Degree Theory in Classical Music Theory
Hold on tight! We’re getting down to business now.
Let’s stick to our example in the key of C major. Scale degree theory states:
In its simplest form, a chord has a root note plus a third and a fifth.
In the C major example, it looks like this:
You see: Each scale degree consists of a root note. In the case of C major, these are C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C. These notes are each supplemented by a third and a fifth. Don’t know what a third and a fifth mean? Then take a look at my post on intervals and you’ll understand immediately.
Attention: When you add a third and a fifth above the root note, make sure these notes are present in the corresponding scale. The result is – attention, technical term – diatonic triads.
And why the name scale degree theory now?
If you look at the image above again, do you notice anything? Each chord is marked with a Roman numeral. You can probably guess its meaning: Each Roman numeral denotes a scale degree.
Since all scales consist of seven notes, they always have seven scale degrees.
Diatonic Triads in Major Keys
Let’s quickly take a look at the diatonic triads of the C major scale. Or even better: Let’s play them briefly. Sit down at your keyboard instrument and play the diatonic triads of the C major scale upwards. Listen carefully.
Do you notice anything? Exactly, the chords of the second, third, and sixth degrees sound somewhat melancholic. It has a distinct minor feel to it, if you ask me. Furthermore, the chord of the seventh degree seems a little dissonant.
And it practically screams for resolution. Meaning: You have to play the root chord of the first degree again after it, so that your ear and brain are happy.
All these are signs of a diminished chord.
Diatonic Triads of a Major Key
I, IV, and V degrees = Major Chord (major third + minor third)
II, III, and VI degrees = Minor Chord (minor third + major third)
VII degree = Diminished Chord (minor third + minor third)
Diatonic Triads in Minor Keys
So far, we’ve looked at the scale degrees based on a major scale. Now let’s do the same with a minor key. Let’s try it with A minor.
Here again, make sure you only form diatonic triads. Meaning, only use the notes of the respective minor keys in the triads.
Here we go again. Let’s play these chords on the piano too. Don’t worry: If you’re using a Clavinova, keyboard, or digital piano, that’s fine too. Now play the diatonic triads of the A minor scale upwards and listen carefully.
This time, the chords of the first, fourth, and fifth degrees sound minor. Conversely, the triads of the third, sixth, and seventh degrees sound major. That leaves the second degree. Here we again have a diminished chord that absolutely wants to be resolved by the third degree – a major chord.
Diatonic Triads in Minor Keys
I, IV, and V degrees = Minor Chord (minor third + major third)
III, VI, and VII degrees = Major Chord (major third + minor third)
II degree = Diminished Chord (minor third + minor third)
Tonic, Dominant, and Subdominant
The tonic is always the first note, the dominant is always the fifth note of a key. It lies a fifth above the tonic. The subdominant is on the fourth degree of a major or minor scale.
First Degree = Tonic
Fourth Degree = Subdominant
Fifth Degree = Dominant
For harmony theory, these three elements are very important. They are always our main scale degrees. Why will you love them? They help you to play freely and arrange cleanly.
Playing by Intuition
If you just take a look at the melody for the right hand here, you might already be able to play it. It’s easy – and completely without sheet music know-how – if you familiarize yourself with the harmonies.
How do you harmonize this piece now? Let’s proceed step by step together.
Play Piano by Intuition
1. What key is the song in?
There are no key signatures visible on the staff. Also, the chord symbol ‘C’ is above the first note. It suggests C major. You can tell from a mile away. That answers the first question.
2. What key designations do we have?
The song is in C major. We also encounter the key designations E minor, A minor, G major, F major, D minor, and G major.
And now it gets magical. Remember our scale degrees of the C major scale. First degree was C major. Second degree D minor. Third degree E minor. Fourth degree F major. Fifth degree G major. The sixth degree A minor. With that, we have all the chords that appear in the song. Incredible!
3. Start Playing!
This means for you: Either you play a C major chord, then a D minor chord, etc., according to the chord indications. Or you free yourself completely from that and use the knowledge of harmony theory for your purposes.
So, in the first few measures, you don’t just play C major, E minor, A minor, C major, F major, D minor. You play first degree, third degree, sixth degree, first degree, fourth degree, second degree.
Or, you make it even easier for yourself and focus exclusively on tonic, dominant, and subdominant. Essentially, you can accompany the entire song with these three harmonies. That’s how it’s done!
Lifehack: You can now assign the appropriate harmony to all scale notes. The subdominant fits the notes of the fourth, sixth, and first degrees of the scale. The dominant fits the fifth, seventh, and second degrees of the scale. The tonic fits the fifth, first, and third degrees of C major.
Understand Harmony Theory. Play Chords Confidently. Play Piano Intuitively. At piano.university
Phew. That was a lot of material today. But hey, if you’ve understood everything, you’ve come a long way. And if not, that’s no shame either. No one is born an Intuinaut. But you can become one.
Harmony theory is a tool or a system with which you can play anything. Therefore, the focus in intuitive piano playing is on harmony theory.
Internalize harmony theory and make your harmonies sound professional. How? As a participant in the Masterclass Intuition. What do you need to do for that? Visit piano.university and enroll. Then you’ll soon master harmony theory inside out, can read sheet music better and intuitively play your favorite songs.
See you soon at piano.university
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