Polychords

     A polychord consists of two or more chords played together and such chords may be originated from the same or different tonalities – usually the latter is applied. Generally, the used chord in the polychord structures must be perceived independently, although it is not mandatory. Nevertheless, when the chord pitches are mixed, the overall chord …

Chords by Seconds

     As we have chords by thirds (or 6th), chords by fourths (or fifths), we also have chords built by stacking seconds (or sevenths). Mind you that the fact that a chord by thirds or fourths has seconds in it, doesn’t make it into a secundal chord – i.e. if you arrange the notes of a …

Chords by Fourths and Fifths

     Also referred to as quartal or quintal harmony when the chords are built by stacking fourths or fifths, respectively. These chords don’t need to have these intervals exclusively, as long as fourths or fifths predominate, they are still considered as such. The possibilities for building three-note fourth chords are:      These chord formations (in fourths or …

The 6th Diminished Scale

     The construction of this scale basically consists on adding a b6 on a major scale that unlike the bebop major scale, with similar construction, is treated as a scale degree and not simply as a passing tone:      The addition of the b6 creates an octatonic major scale with an even number of notes in the …

Scales Harmonization

      Learning how to harmonize a scale is a procedure that will allow you to figure out the possible chord formations as a consequence of using the notes from that tonality. In order to do so you just have to consider each note of such scale and build chords on top of it, …

Darkest to Brightest Modes

     Now that you have a good idea of how each mode sounds and considering that we are dealing with modes from within the same tonality, it is time see how they relate to each other in terms of feel and color. In terms of balance, when you play the Ionian mode (major scale), it has …