Monday 10/10
Harmony
Harmony : Combination of simultaneous Pitches
This does not specify if the simultaneous pitches sound Good/Right or Bad/Wrong Together - it simply means multiple notes played/sounded simultaneously
HOWEVER
many times when we say harmony, it is implied that we mean FUNCTIONAL HARMONY , which is harmony that sounds good/right
RULE OF THUMB: All Music on the Radio uses Functional Harmony ( The point of the radio is for A LOT of PEOPLE to listen to the station == Good Ratings)
This is the type of Harmony we would learn in school or private lessons
I.E. : Major/Minor Scales , Major/Minor Chords etc.
The difference between FUNCTION HARMONY and NON FUNCTIONAL HARMONY is drastic and can be heard IMMEDIATELY
(Generally we would not even hear this unless we seek them out...)
This does not specify if the simultaneous pitches sound Good/Right or Bad/Wrong Together - it simply means multiple notes played/sounded simultaneously
HOWEVER
many times when we say harmony, it is implied that we mean FUNCTIONAL HARMONY , which is harmony that sounds good/right
RULE OF THUMB: All Music on the Radio uses Functional Harmony ( The point of the radio is for A LOT of PEOPLE to listen to the station == Good Ratings)
This is the type of Harmony we would learn in school or private lessons
I.E. : Major/Minor Scales , Major/Minor Chords etc.
The difference between FUNCTION HARMONY and NON FUNCTIONAL HARMONY is drastic and can be heard IMMEDIATELY
(Generally we would not even hear this unless we seek them out...)
|
Functional Harmony
|
Non - Functional
|
Classical Vocal Music
|
|
|
Classical Piano Music
|
|
|
Jazz
|
|
|
There are very few examples of this type of Harmony/Music in Popular Music Genres ( i.e. R&B / Rock / Hip Hop / Country Pop etc.) -
We see it much more in Classical / Jazz music Where there is more experimentation
This is for obvious reasons as most people would not like listening to these examples (myself included!!)
It is a very small group of people who enjoy this type of music that is lacking in conventional functional harmony!
We see it much more in Classical / Jazz music Where there is more experimentation
This is for obvious reasons as most people would not like listening to these examples (myself included!!)
It is a very small group of people who enjoy this type of music that is lacking in conventional functional harmony!
Functional Harmony
Functional Harmony : Which notes sound Good/Right together
AND...
HOW did we arrive standard for what sound's Right (i.e. 'right' is the mostly the same for everyone)
There are a couple answers for this question.....
One is Scientific....
AND...
HOW did we arrive standard for what sound's Right (i.e. 'right' is the mostly the same for everyone)
There are a couple answers for this question.....
One is Scientific....
|
All pitches are made by a frequency or sound wave
The Range of the pitch (high vs. low) is dependent on the speed of the sound wave FAST = HIGH SLOW = LOW Unit of Measurement Hertz or Hz Hertz gives us a numerical value for how many cycles per second a sound wave completes MORE CYCLES = FASTER SOUNDWAVE Tone Generator
So if we think of 2 tones together , or , 2 Frequencies / sound waves together SOME Frequencies sound better together because of how their sound waves actually line up |
|
The other is simpler...
We (all of us, others before us) have been hearing the same notes put together for our whole lives , and those notes have been the same for along time before us
Pentatonic Scale
(****remember from the movie howard Goodall Talks about the Pentatonic Scale - a group of 5 notes that all civilizations have in common
These notes have been drilled into us for our entire lives.... Marry had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle... Alphabet...
Bobby Macferran Pentatonic Scale
The Pentatonic scale is a small example of how our ears have been trained to be partial to certain groups of notes when they are put together
(Some people say it is actually genetic - it is in our DNA that certain notes sound better together than other)
We have all been exposed to music that abides by all the same basic rules , and have trained our ears to know what
notes sound good together and what sounds bad according to those rules
When talking specifically about what notes/pitches sound good when played together, we break it down into 2 categories:
Scales and Chords
We (all of us, others before us) have been hearing the same notes put together for our whole lives , and those notes have been the same for along time before us
Pentatonic Scale
(****remember from the movie howard Goodall Talks about the Pentatonic Scale - a group of 5 notes that all civilizations have in common
These notes have been drilled into us for our entire lives.... Marry had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle... Alphabet...
Bobby Macferran Pentatonic Scale
The Pentatonic scale is a small example of how our ears have been trained to be partial to certain groups of notes when they are put together
(Some people say it is actually genetic - it is in our DNA that certain notes sound better together than other)
We have all been exposed to music that abides by all the same basic rules , and have trained our ears to know what
notes sound good together and what sounds bad according to those rules
When talking specifically about what notes/pitches sound good when played together, we break it down into 2 categories:
Scales and Chords
Scale
OR A group of notes played in succession that sound Good/Right together This is another concept that we take from the greeks
They called these MODES
they would choose notes only from the appropriate mode This is also something that we take from the Greeks, as even until this day we associate Major Scales/Chords with Happy and Minor Scales/Chords with Sad |
|
Chords
Where scales deal with groups of notes played in succession, Chords refer to notes that are played/ sounded simultaneously
A Chord is : 3 or more notes simultaneously
Think of the timeline of Harmony - We started out with just one melody line of Gregorian chant, Then they added a Drone, then a second line of Melody, giving us 3 separate notes sounding at one time. this gives us a chord!
Many of the examples of innovation in that timeline were attempts to figure out how to successfully (in a way that sounds good) put scales with chords.
If we think of 2 components of a song : Melody and Harmony
in a Given Pop song these will be represented by a vocal melody, and a chordal instrument (such as piano or guitar)
A Chord is : 3 or more notes simultaneously
Think of the timeline of Harmony - We started out with just one melody line of Gregorian chant, Then they added a Drone, then a second line of Melody, giving us 3 separate notes sounding at one time. this gives us a chord!
Many of the examples of innovation in that timeline were attempts to figure out how to successfully (in a way that sounds good) put scales with chords.
If we think of 2 components of a song : Melody and Harmony
in a Given Pop song these will be represented by a vocal melody, and a chordal instrument (such as piano or guitar)
|
|
|
Familiarity VS. Contrast
Familiarity in Harmony
Harmony is one big way artists and composers provide familiarity in music....
The reason some notes sound good together is because we are familiar with the sound .. WE are used to it and we are comfortable with how it sounds
Think of how many Major/Minor Chords the average person has heard over the course of their lifetime
(Every song you or I have ever heard contains these - wit the exception of song with non functional harmony)
When we hear major and minor chords in the song, this is not the first time we are hearing that chord. we have heard it many times before!
Therefore we are already familiar with the song ( even if it is a small aspect! )
One Important Device in Music for creating Familiarity is the Chord Progression
Chord Progression: A Series of Chords played in Specific Order
Examples:
All of Me
Hello
Both songs repeat the Chord Progression right from the start of the song
This gives us a musical home and some familiarity before the vocals come in - now that we have that home established we can focus on the melody and lyrics
Further Repitition : Both songs are actually written with the same chord progression!
(The sound a little different because they are in different ranges as adele sings higher)
So we have 2 aspects of repetition: (1) The progression repeating within the song, (2) and the progression repeating from Other Songs
This happens a lot in popular music...
Harmony is one big way artists and composers provide familiarity in music....
The reason some notes sound good together is because we are familiar with the sound .. WE are used to it and we are comfortable with how it sounds
Think of how many Major/Minor Chords the average person has heard over the course of their lifetime
(Every song you or I have ever heard contains these - wit the exception of song with non functional harmony)
When we hear major and minor chords in the song, this is not the first time we are hearing that chord. we have heard it many times before!
Therefore we are already familiar with the song ( even if it is a small aspect! )
One Important Device in Music for creating Familiarity is the Chord Progression
Chord Progression: A Series of Chords played in Specific Order
Examples:
All of Me
Hello
Both songs repeat the Chord Progression right from the start of the song
This gives us a musical home and some familiarity before the vocals come in - now that we have that home established we can focus on the melody and lyrics
Further Repitition : Both songs are actually written with the same chord progression!
(The sound a little different because they are in different ranges as adele sings higher)
So we have 2 aspects of repetition: (1) The progression repeating within the song, (2) and the progression repeating from Other Songs
This happens a lot in popular music...
Rhythm
Webster: a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
OR
Repetitive/Consistant Patterns In Time
This (like Harmony) is a term we take from real life
Think of how many repeated patterns in time we have in our life:
Sleep Schedule.....
Eating/Dietary......
Work Schedule......
The SEASONS are on a repeated Pattern in Time
Physical Movements:
Running - Consistant Pattern
Heartbeat.....
Walking....
Chewing....
Talking....
Not only are these present in our life, but we see the theme of
Consistency and Familiarity because we generally
like the Rhythm ( repetitive patterns in time) at a
Consistant/Constant Speed
Heartbeat...
Walking...
Chewing ...
Talking...
and FURTHER, if there is a change or inconsistency in speed with these physical movements,
that can represent acertain EMOTIONA
Characteristics of Rhythm: Duration/Note Length, Explicit Vs. Implicit
Rhythm is Delivered - I.E. how we hear it - in many different ways depending on Genre, Instrumentation, and Style etc.
For Example, it could be delivered by a Drum Set in a Rock Band, A Synthesized Beat in a Modern Hip hop Song, Pulsing strings in a String Quartet, or beatboxing in an A Capella Ensemble
No Matter what it is Provided by, Regardless of How fast it is, somehow we always Feel the Beat
So, Given that it is Always There, we want to examine it's Characteristics
Delivery:
What is it being Provided By
How is it being Provided
Explicit -------------------------VS-------------------------------Implicit
Very Obvious ---------------------VS-----------------------------Not Obvious
*********************Side-Note*******************
Notice How many of these concepts are based on a set of Two Extremes
Examples:
Consonant------------vs.--------------- Dissonant
Repetitive-------------vs.----------------Non-Repetitive
High----------------vs-----------------Low
OR
Repetitive/Consistant Patterns In Time
This (like Harmony) is a term we take from real life
Think of how many repeated patterns in time we have in our life:
Sleep Schedule.....
Eating/Dietary......
Work Schedule......
The SEASONS are on a repeated Pattern in Time
Physical Movements:
Running - Consistant Pattern
Heartbeat.....
Walking....
Chewing....
Talking....
Not only are these present in our life, but we see the theme of
Consistency and Familiarity because we generally
like the Rhythm ( repetitive patterns in time) at a
Consistant/Constant Speed
Heartbeat...
Walking...
Chewing ...
Talking...
and FURTHER, if there is a change or inconsistency in speed with these physical movements,
that can represent acertain EMOTIONA
Characteristics of Rhythm: Duration/Note Length, Explicit Vs. Implicit
Rhythm is Delivered - I.E. how we hear it - in many different ways depending on Genre, Instrumentation, and Style etc.
For Example, it could be delivered by a Drum Set in a Rock Band, A Synthesized Beat in a Modern Hip hop Song, Pulsing strings in a String Quartet, or beatboxing in an A Capella Ensemble
No Matter what it is Provided by, Regardless of How fast it is, somehow we always Feel the Beat
So, Given that it is Always There, we want to examine it's Characteristics
Delivery:
What is it being Provided By
How is it being Provided
Explicit -------------------------VS-------------------------------Implicit
Very Obvious ---------------------VS-----------------------------Not Obvious
*********************Side-Note*******************
Notice How many of these concepts are based on a set of Two Extremes
Examples:
Consonant------------vs.--------------- Dissonant
Repetitive-------------vs.----------------Non-Repetitive
High----------------vs-----------------Low
Video #1
Daphnis and Chloe
-Beginning is void of any real obvious rhythm
-Mostly Stagnant notes, or instruments playing long notes s
-this creates that spacey feeling, we are waiting for something to ground us
-Feel the CONTRAST when finally we get some more explicit rhythm at 0:40 in the strings
-They use the lack of rhythm to build to a climax
-by 2:30/3:00 we have a solid rhythm (i.e. can tap our foot)
Video #2
Now Contrast that with this "Staccato Hora"
-Immediately we have something to tap our foot to
-makes us want to move much more
-the rhythm is explicitly outlined in the music by shorter notes all over the orchestra
MORE NOTES = MORE INFORMATION
(In the case, Rhythmic Information)
Depending on the note lengths that the different instruments are playing, we can alter how the rhythm is implied!
Video #3
How does this apply to modern pop music:
Try to apply some of those concepts to this modern pop song
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
What sounds best
Video #4
What if we were to add drums to that track?
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
Optional:
What sounds best?
Daphnis and Chloe
-Beginning is void of any real obvious rhythm
-Mostly Stagnant notes, or instruments playing long notes s
-this creates that spacey feeling, we are waiting for something to ground us
-Feel the CONTRAST when finally we get some more explicit rhythm at 0:40 in the strings
-They use the lack of rhythm to build to a climax
-by 2:30/3:00 we have a solid rhythm (i.e. can tap our foot)
Video #2
Now Contrast that with this "Staccato Hora"
-Immediately we have something to tap our foot to
-makes us want to move much more
-the rhythm is explicitly outlined in the music by shorter notes all over the orchestra
MORE NOTES = MORE INFORMATION
(In the case, Rhythmic Information)
Depending on the note lengths that the different instruments are playing, we can alter how the rhythm is implied!
Video #3
How does this apply to modern pop music:
Try to apply some of those concepts to this modern pop song
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
What sounds best
Video #4
What if we were to add drums to that track?
Questions About Rhythm in A Specific Song
How Is the Rhythm being Implied?
What is the rhythm being Implied/Provided by?
Is it VERY obvious, or NOT VERY obvious?
How is this effected by note length/duration?
How could he imply differently?
Optional:
What sounds best?