Harmony Tip 1

I’ve heard songwriters say that they would like to feel more free to choose chords for their songs, or as I like to say, to dress their melodies. Sometimes we may feel stuck in the common – I – VI – II – V pattern, or I – IV – V – IV pattern, or any pattern that obviously fit the key we believe the melody is written in.

Well, there is another way. Instead of picking the chord you believe should be the right one, try dressing your melody using your emotions instead. Try this:

Exercise 1 – Use only dominant type chords, such as a C7:

1- Write a simple 4/4 eight measure bass line, without thinking of a specific key. Each note with a Whole Note value.

2- Ask yourself about each bass note: is this the 3rd, 5th or 7th of which chords?

3- Write above each note the options.

4- Use the Fundamental Position (stacked 3rds) only on the last bass note. Don’t use the 7th here. Instead, double one of the notes (Tonic, 3rd or 5th).

5- Try to use the concepts of convergent and divergent movements – when the bass note goes up, the melody goes down, and vice versa.

6- Choose the chords according to the emotion, the color you want that chord to emanate.

7- Do this exercise everyday for at least one week to get the idea. Ex: