Harmony text books often advise us to avoid using this particular chord progression. Why is that? This music composition lesson explains how this chord progression can create difficulties in the part writing with consecutive / parallel...

Why do second inversion chords demand special treatment? Starting with an explanation of why root position and first inversion chords are stable in themselves we are introduced to 6/4 5/3 progressions and passing 6/4 chords, as the...

Many people are comfortable working in the harmonic and melodic keys when harmonising a melodic line but feel less assured doing the same in the natural minor. In this music theory lesson we explore which chords are major, which are...

Discover how to harmonise a fast moving melody with chords. The temptation is to harmonise every note, resulting in a harmonic rhythm that moves too quickly. We explore how to determine which notes are harmony notes / chord tones and...

How to extend basic triads into chords using added 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths. Having considered how to construct these chords we explore how to use extended chords in four part harmony, discovering which notes we can omit from each...

How to write simple harmonic sequences over a bass line that is derived from the pattern of the circle of 5ths. By alternating intervals of the 4th and the 5th in the bass a descending bass line is created above which a systematic...

We explore one idea for harmonising a descending scale in the bass line. Many people find it easier to harmonise an ascending scale than a descending scale and most people find it easier to harmonise a scale at the top of the texture...

This music theory lesson summarises the rule of the octave and explains how it offers insight into harmonic thinking and into Baroque harmony in particular. The rule of the octave begins with the notion of harmonising an octave of the...

Learn about the most commonly used borrowed chords and chromatically altered chords. Many composers and arrangers find themselves limited to diatonic chords and lack the confidence to use borrowed and chromatically altered chords. Yet...

We consider the possibilities for using chord V as either a major or a minor chord. In the harmonic minor context used by most composers since 1600 chord V is always major but in the context of the descending melodic minor scale and in...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord III what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Improve your music writing and harmony with these three chromatic chord alteration tricks. Many composers, arrangers, and improvisers get fed up with being stuck using the same basic chords all the time. This music composition lesson...

Learn about the two systems for labelling chords in the Roman Numeral system, namely Basic Roman and Extended Roman. In this music theory lesson the construction of diatonic chords is explained, followed by the labelling of those chords....

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord VI what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

How do you know which chord you could use next? We share our very own major chord progression chart that will help get you started in figuring out which chord comes next. Musicians often wonder which is the best way to progress from one...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord V what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Composing music in different styles using the same chord progression. Have you ever experienced the frustration of finding a sequence of chords you really like the sound of but have been unsure about how to compose a melody to fit those...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord V what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Chord identification on the piano and how to tell the difference between major, minor, augmented, and diminished chords. In this music theory lesson all is explained. Within any major key there is found a mixture of major, minor, and...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord IV what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord VII what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord IV what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...

Improve your harmony with advanced chords and learn how to write more dramatic chord progressions with this music composition tip. In this music composition lesson we analyse the harmony of the opening section of Bach’s C Minor Partita,...

Are you struggling to get started in writing a chord progression? If you want to use chord III what are the best options for chords to follow? This music composition lesson gives you plenty of options for chords that progress well from...