Quartal Harmony

This lesson is part of the Harmony category.

Objectives

• Students will become familiar with the concepts, sounds and structures of quartal harmony.

Resources

Readings

• Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom
  • Chapter 32: Impressionism and Extended Tonality
    • 32.3: Quartal, Quintal, and Secundal Harmony
• Rubin, "Quartal Harmony"
• Jazz Guitar Online: Laukens, "Quartal Guitar Chords, Harmony & Voicings"

Class Activities

• Discussion and definition of quartal and quintal chords
• Identification and analysis of music which features quartal harmony
• Composition and improvisation of a chord progression which use quartal and quintal chords

Assignments

• Analysis of quartal harmony in written and recorded music
• Composition of chord progressions which include quartal and quintal chords