Harmonic Analysis - Common Harmonic Sequences

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LessonSERIES : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection Series Home

Introduction Basic Concepts Six Harmonic Principles Full Diatonic Partial Diatonic Internal Modulation Unresolved Chromatic Cycles Scale Selection Chord Substitution Common Progressions Common Harmonic Sequences Major and Minor Sale Charts Mode Charts Worksheets Conclusion

Im ImL+5 Im6

Examples of songs with this harmonic sequence are: Witchcraft, Secret Agent Man Theme.

This harmonic sequence is often called a line cliche.

Scale Choices:

• Aeolian (Natural Minor) on the Im7
• Harmonic Minor on the Im7+5
• Dorian on the Im6

Picardy Third

A Picardy Third is when a minor II V resolves to a Major I chord, not the expected Minor I chord. Rarely does the reverse happen where a major II V resolves to a Minor I . ( see Internal Modulation chapter )

Scale Choices:

• For the II V use Harmonic Minor of the I chord for a traditional sound
• Locrian of the II for a Contemporary, Modern Sound
• Ionian (Major) or Lydian of the I

Chromatic Sevenths

Examples of songs with this harmonic sequence are: Fever, Hit the Road Jack, Stray Cat Strut, Walk Don't Run (I, ♭VII, ♭VI, V), Tequila (I7 ♭VII7), Killer Joe (I7 ♭VII7).

Scale Choices:

• Ionian (Major) on the I
• Mixolydian +4 on the ♭VII7 and ♭VI7 chords
• Mixolydian on the V

Confirmation Sequence

The Confirmation Sequence gets its name from the great jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker’s song Confirmation. This sequence typically begins on the I chord of the key and works it way to the IV chord of the key using a series of II V 's. The IV chord would be a major chord type (major or seventh).

Here is an example from the song Bluesette By Toots Thielemans

The Charlie Parker Confirmation Sequence

This song could be initially labeled as:

*Secondary Dominant chords resolving to their I chords.

This sequence is better labeled as a series of II V Secondary Dominants resolving to their I chords, which serve as double function chords, both a I of the V and a II of the next cycle:

Scale Choices:

Refer to the Scale Selections lesson for scale choices/solutions.