which chord?

[Tash]

for all you theory buffs out there,
i'm meant to be harmonising a melody in the style of a Bach chorale, but the thing that's always stumped me in harmonising in 4 parts is i never know which chord to pick, and usually end up picking something wrong and get parallel 5ths and octaves and all other things that could possibly be wrong. so can anyone give me some tips in this wonderous area?

[jas]

We were always told to write these things "vertically." If you're not already doing that give it a go, it makes things easier.
I suppose harmonising them well just takes lots of listening to the real thing and lots of practice!

Jas

[BoliverAllmon]

just think of classification of chors. chords 7 and 5 are in a family together (class 1). 4 and 2 are together (class 2). 6 and 3 are together (class 3).  You want to always be moving to tonic. so if you have a chord in class 3 then you want to try to get the next chord to be in class 2. You can skip classes but don't go overboard with it. if you do then you tend to lose the tight knitting of a piece. Also, memorize common chord progressions. take the ending of alot of music. it goes like this ii7, I64, V7/V, V7, (bVI6 here if it is romantic otherwise) I.

oh and another thing. if you use accidentals. remember this. All accidentals are resolved by step. sharps go up and flats go down. Don't forget to resolve your sevenths also. Remember which note is suppose to be doubled. (root in root position chords, soprano in first inversion chords, and root in second inversion chords)

hope this helps and make sense.

[jas]

just think of classification of chors. chords 7 and 5 are in a family together (class 1). 4 and 2 are together (class 2). 6 and 3 are together (class 3).  You want to always be moving to tonic. so if you have a chord in class 3 then you want to try to get the next chord to be in class 2. You can skip classes but don't go overboard with it. if you do then you tend to lose the tight knitting of a piece. Also, memorize common chord progressions. take the ending of alot of music. it goes like this ii7, I64, V7/V, V7, (bVI6 here if it is romantic otherwise) I.

oh and another thing. if you use accidentals. remember this. All accidentals are resolved by step. sharps go up and flats go down. Don't forget to resolve your sevenths also. Remember which note is suppose to be doubled. (root in root position chords, soprano in first inversion chords, and root in second inversion chords)

hope this helps and make sense.

... That too.

Jas

[Tash]

the soprano is meant to be the doubled note in 1st inversion eh? well that's one thing i didn't know and that could be quite helpful thankyou! hmmm i think i can get my head around all that- i think i basically knew it already but you've just phrased it differently boliver. i'll go give it another attempt tomorrow screw today happy easter all!!

[dmk]

First of all go and write out all your chords and put in all your passing and cadential 6/4's.

Never go chords I-II. 

Make sure you follow all your cadence, dominant 7th, secondary 7th rules and always double the 5th in second inversion chords and you will usually never go wrong with a Bach Chorale!

Is this for uni or for musicianship exams?

[Bob]

https://www.musictheorycafe.com/forum/

Ask there too Tash.

[BoliverAllmon]

also to add flair think of these progressions. v/v usually goes to v right? Instead occassionally go to iii. (secondary deceptive cadence) gives great effect though again it can be overdone.  It is basically the vi in the temporary tonicized key. Modal borrowing is a very nice effect also.

Man, I just love theory.

boliver

[BoliverAllmon]

oh hear is another one. any dominant seventh chord can also be a +6 chord. V sub 6th is a nice chord also. if the piece is slower then tall chords can be real nice. kinda clangy if done at faster tempos. real jazzy feel though.

boliver

[Tash]

oh yeah i'll just jazz up my bach chorale hahaha. cool thanks i shall contemplate all that

[BoliverAllmon]

oh yeah i'll just jazz up my bach chorale hahaha. cool thanks i shall contemplate all that

oh yeah i forgot it was bach. OOPS. leave out the tall chords. they aren't prominent until impressionistic music.

boliver