The importance of deep harmonic comprehension and ear training cannot be overstated…
Such understanding knows which chords establish the key and tonality, which chords create tension, and where each chord belongs in the overall context of the piece.
That said, let’s strip away the melody from our lead sheet and play the harmony as simple block chords in the right hand over a single bass note in the left hand…
Absorb the general sound/feeling of each chord and notice that…
- The C (I) chord establishes the home key and major-ness of the piece.
- The G7 (V7) chord creates harmonic tension that craves resolution back to the C chord.
Conceived graphically, the harmonic structure look like this…
… a bread & butter pattern that you will see time and time again in almost every kind of music!
Ear Training
It is not enough to merely listen. If you want internalize these sound-feelings, you must SING OUT LOUD! Sing the bass notes, and the individual chord voices, and arpeggios–slowly enough for the unique sound-feeling of each note to seep into your mind’s ear…
Sing the bass notes…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Do you hear and feel how G (So) wants to resolve back to C (Do)?
Sing the “Do-Ti-Do” voice…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Do you hear and feel the irresistible pull of B (Ti) back to C (Do)? This tension and resolution really makes this chord progression tick.
Sing the “So-So-So” Voice…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Notice that this inner voice G (So) is common to both chords and does not need to go anywhere.
Sing the “Mi-Fa-Mi” Voice…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Do you hear and feel the very strong attraction that F (Fa) has for E (Mi)? The resolution of this tension makes the V7-I chord progression very powerful indeed.
Since the “Do-Re-Do” voice…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Do you hear and feel the unique attraction of D (Re) back to C (Do)?
Sing the chords as Arpeggios…
Listen to Frank model how you might sing this…
Reminder: Your goal is not to hear the intervals between notes, but to internalize what each note sounds and feels like with respect to the key center. (But it’s okay if you do hear the intervals)
The Lesson: This kind of analysis and ear training lays a solid foundation for conceiving and experiencing the HARMONIC CANVAS on which we are going to paint with sound in the posts that follow!