Chords & Harmony

The minor seventh chord is a cornerstone of jazz, blues, and popular music, and its effective voicing on the piano is essential for harmonic richness. Common voicings include root position, first and second inversions, spread voicings (drop 2 and drop 3), and four-note closed positions, each offering distinct textural and expressive qualities. Mastering these voicings enables pianists to accompany elegantly, comp with rhythmic drive, and solo with melodic clarity.

A secondary dominant is a chord that acts as the dominant of a diatonic chord other than the tonic, temporarily tonicizing it. These chromatic chords enhance harmonic color and tension, and are fundamental to tonal music from the Baroque era onward.

Harmonizing a chorale is the art of adding supporting voices to a given melody, typically in four-part SATB style. This guide provides a systematic approach for beginners, covering chord selection, voice leading, and stylistic conventions rooted in the tradition of J.S. Bach. By following these steps, you can create smooth, expressive harmonizations that honor the chorale’s liturgical and musical heritage.

Learn the art of substituting a minor seventh chord with other seventh chords in harmonic progressions, from tritone substitution to relative major/minor swaps. This guide explores practical techniques, theoretical foundations, and historical context for enriching your chord progressions.

A half-diminished chord is a four-note harmony built from a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh. Notated as ø or m7♭5, it serves as a pivotal pre-dominant in classical music and a staple in jazz harmony. This article explores its definition, notation, history, and practical applications.

Diatonic chord progressions are the harmonic backbone of countless pop and rock songs, relying solely on the seven chords built from a major or minor scale. These progressions, such as the ubiquitous I–V–vi–IV, create a familiar sense of tension and release that underpins much of Western popular music. Understanding these patterns reveals how a limited palette of chords yields infinite melodic and lyrical possibilities.

A dominant seventh chord is a four‑note harmony built on the fifth degree of a scale, consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. It creates strong tension that typically resolves to the tonic chord.

A cadence is a harmonic or melodic ending that signals closure, pause, or continuation in a piece of music. It is a core concept in Western tonal theory, shaping the direction and emotional impact of phrases and sections.

An arpeggio is a musical figure in which the notes of a chord are played in succession rather than simultaneously. It is a fundamental technique across many styles, from classical to jazz, and appears in both melodic and harmonic contexts.

A minor seventh chord is a four‑note harmony built from a root, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh. It appears in many musical styles and serves both as a tonal color and a functional chord in progressions.