Knowledge base
voice leading
How Can Synthesizer and Modular Musicians Use Chord Voicing, Voice Leading and Probability to Create Better Generative Harmony?
Voicing Chords for Synthesizers and Generative MusicChord voicing is often discussed in the context of piano, jazz or orchestral composition. However, it is… read more
What Is Voice Leading, and How Can Common Tones and Small Intervals Create Smoother Chord Changes?
Voice Leading and Chord Voicing: How to Create Smooth Harmonic MovementA chord progression is more than a sequence of harmonic blocks. It is also a collection of individual musical voices… read more
What Are the Five Main Types of Seventh Chords, and How Do They Function in Harmony?
Seventh Chords Explained: The Foundation of Extended HarmonyThe addition of a seventh transforms a simple triad into a richer and more expressive harmonic structure. Seventh chords are among the most… read more
What Are Italian, French and German Augmented-Sixth Chords, and How Do They Resolve to the Dominant?
Augmented-Sixth Chords: How Chromatic Harmony Intensifies the DominantAmong the most distinctive chromatic harmonies in tonal music are the augmented-sixth chords.
They are… read more
What Is the Neapolitan Chord, and How Does ♭II⁶ Resolve to the Dominant in C Minor?
The Neapolitan Chord: Creating Dramatic Tension Before the DominantSome chords are immediately recognisable because of the particular harmonic role they play.
The Neapolitan chord is one of them.
… read moreWhat Are Secondary Leading-Tone Chords, and How Does vii°/ii Resolve to D Minor?
Secondary Leading-Tone Chords: Using Diminished Harmony to Approach ChordsSecondary dominants are not the only way to create temporary harmonic direction within a key.
Another important technique uses… read more
What Is Chromatic Harmony, and How Do Chromatic Chords Add Colour Without Changing the Key?
Chromatic Harmony Explained: Adding Colour Beyond the Major and Minor ScalesDiatonic harmony provides the basic harmonic vocabulary of major and minor keys. It gives chords their familiar functions… read more
What Is a Pivot Chord, and How Can You Use It to Modulate from One Key to Another?
Pivot Chords: How to Modulate Smoothly Between KeysOne of the most elegant ways to move from one key to another is through a pivot chord.
A pivot chord belongs naturally to both the original key and… read more
What Are Musical Suspensions and the Cadential 6/4, and How Do They Strengthen a Cadence?
Suspensions and the Cadential 6/4: Delaying Resolution to Increase TensionA cadence does not always become more powerful by arriving quickly. Sometimes its impact comes from delaying the expected… read more
Why Does the Final Soprano Note Matter in Perfect and Imperfect Authentic Cadences?
The Soprano and Cadence Types: How the Final Melody Shapes Musical ClosureWhen we listen to a musical cadence, we hear more than the movement between two chords. We also hear the final melodic gesture that… read more