Harmonic analysis
Contents |
Definition
Harmonic analysis describes in detail a particular sequence, or progression of tones, triads or chords.
Analysis
In general, harmonic analysis gives a particular description of how harmony functions in a certain piece of music.
No analysis can ever completely answer why a composition is as it is (was made this way), therefore the basic and often instinctive question for the "why" has to be rephrased in terms of the "what" and the "how", so:
harmonic analysis asks and answers two main questions:
- what is the harmony made of (composition)
- how is the harmony put together (structure)
More particularly, harmonic analysis can analyse functional harmony precisely by determining tonics, subdominants, dominants and their degrees, whether altered or not.
Practice
When applied properly, harmonic analysis is a general tool with which one can approach non-functional harmony as well.
Harmonic analysis always involves specifically trained ears, and cannot be done merely on sight from notation. The quality of a harmonic analysis is therefore as good as the brains behind the ears that do the evaluation.
See also
| Consists of | Sequence +, Progression +, Tones +, Triad +, and Chord + |
| Is part of | Harmony + |
| Treats | Functional harmony +, Tonic +, Subdominant +, Dominant +, and Degree + |
