Harmonic Progressions & Syntax

This lesson is part of the Harmony category.

Objectives

• Students will be familiar with the concept of harmonic progression.
• Students will be able to analyze the progression of a musical phrase in different time periods, genres, and modes.
• Students will be able to construct a harmonic progression appropriate to a particular style of music.

Class Activities

• General introduction to different systems of harmonic progression analysis, including McHose, root movements, neo-Riemannian and harmonic aspects of layer analysis (Schenker)
• Exploration of common popular progressions, such as twelve-bar blues and the Pachelbel progression
• Harmonic analysis of musical compositions from differing styles

Assignments

• Analysis of harmonic progression in written and recorded music
• Composition of a harmonic progression in different styles