Harmony & Tonality

Harmony & Tonality

1. Chords - Two or more notes played at the the same time

   • Triads - Chord of three notes
   • Concord - all the notes seem to 'agree' with each other
   • Dischord - some notes seem to 'disagree' or clash
   • Diatonic - notes which belong to the key
   • Chromatic - notes from outside the key

2. Cadences - two chords at the end of a passage of music

   • Perfect - sound as though the music has come to an end
   • Interrupted - You think you're going to hear a perfect cadence, but you get a minor chord instead
   • Imperfect - sound unfinished
   • Plagal - Sounds finished, often used at the end of hymns and sung to A-men

3. Tonality & Modulation - Key the music is in

   • Tonal - Major or Minor key
     • Major - Sounds happy
     • Minor - Sounds unhappy
   • Atonal - no key
   • Modal - in a mode
     • Modulation - Changes key

4. Bass

   • Drone - Held/Repeated chord
   • Pedal - Held/Repeated Note
   • Ground - bass part is repeated throughout the piece.