Week 10 - Harmonic Contrast
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This document provides instruction on songwriting techniques, including harmonic rhythm, creating contrast with harmony, and the effect of tempo and groove on chord progressions. It defines harmonic rhythm as the number of beats per chord in a progression. It then describes 5 ways to create contrast between sections using harmony: 1) using exact repetition, 2) adding new chords, 3) changing chords more frequently, 4) changing chords less frequently, and 5) rearranging the chords. It also explains that tempo and groove impact the emotional message of a song, and defines groove as how beats are divided to create movement or feeling, using examples. Students are assigned an activity to experiment applying these techniques.
Week 10 - Harmonic Contrast
- 2. LEARNING OUTCOMES ➤ By the end of today’s session, students will be able to: 1. Understand the function of harmonic rhythm 2. Use 5 different ways of creating contrast with harmony 3. Understand the effect of tempo and groove on chord progressions
- 3. HARMONIC RHYTHM ➤ What is harmonic rhythm?
- 4. HARMONIC RHYTHM ➤ The number of beats per chord within a progression ➤ In 4/4, chords are usually held over 2, 4 or 8 beats ™™ C A‹7 F G7(“4) C A‹ F G7(“4) 4 4/ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ™™ C6 A7 D‹7 G7 4 4/ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? D‹7 G7 ™™ E‹7 A7 5 4 4/ / ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
- 5. CREATING CONTRAST WITH HARMONY
- 6. 1. USE EXACT REPETITION ➤ Use the same progression in the verse as in the chorus ➤ The danger of this is that the chord progression is not helping to create contrast between sections ➤ Contrast may then be created by melody or rhythm
- 7. 2. ADD NEW CHORD(S) ➤ Add a new chord or chords in the new section ➤ Do it early in the section indicates the start of a new section ➤ Adding a new chord at the end of a section may not create enough contrast to indicate a new section
- 8. 3. CHANGE CHORDS MORE FREQUENTLY ➤ If you play one chord per bar in the first section, play two chords per bar in the next section ➤ More chords per bar creates more movement (acceleration)
- 10. Flashdance (What a Feeling)
- 11. 4. CHANGE CHORDS LESS FREQUENTLY ➤ If you play two chords per bar in the first section, play one chord per bar in the next section ➤ Less chords per bar creates less movement (deceleration)
- 14. 5. REARRANGE THE CHORDS ➤ Use the same chords, but in a different order ➤ G - C - D ➤ C - D - G
- 15. TEMPO AND GROOVE ➤ A lot of us don’t think about tempo when it comes to songwriting ➤ What tempo should your song be played at? ➤ The appropriate tempo for your song is one that puts your listeners in sync with the songs emotional message ➤ What kinds of songs would need a slower tempo to portray the emotional message effectively? ➤ What kinds of songs would need a faster tempo?
- 16. TEMPO AND GROOVE ➤ What is the difference between tempo and groove?
- 17. TEMPO AND GROOVE ➤ Groove is more about how you divide up the beats in a bar to create something worth moving to (or swaying, or crying, depending….) ➤ Duple feel: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and ➤ Billie Jean - Michael Jackson ➤ Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray ➤ Quadruple feel: 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a ➤ That’s What I Like - Bruno Mars ➤ Dani California - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
- 18. ACTIVITY ➤ Take the chord progressions you wrote earlier ➤ Run them through the five ways of creating contrast with harmony ➤ Now change the tempo - make it faster, make it slower, what happens? ➤ Now change the groove, try either duple or quadruple groove