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Old 7th February 2010, 12:26 AM   #1
lpuma
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Any good book/website about harmony?

I'm actually in the process of improving my music theory knowledge, I have all I need about scales and chords but I only found really basic stuff about harmony, I'd like to find a book/website that explain in details the laws of harmony (I know there's a lot) for classical music and jazz. any advice?
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Old 7th February 2010, 12:27 AM   #2
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Buy harmony navigator.
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Old 7th February 2010, 12:32 AM   #3
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Heinrech Schenker - Harmony
Mark Levine - Jazz Theory Book (if you are just starting to learn advanced music theory, this one alone will keep you busy for months).
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Old 7th February 2010, 12:44 AM   #4
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looks like a good soft, I guess I could learn with it but it looks like something that does the job for you.

I'd rather find something (book/website/soft) that will explain the laws of harmony in a theoric way.

I got the basics, I know how to draw the circle of fifth, I know a few rules but I'm looking for something that goes really in depth about harmony.

The old school stuff but explained in a modern and clear way.

edit: thanks Lmusic
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Old 7th February 2010, 04:12 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lpuma View Post
looks like a good soft, I guess I could learn with it but it looks like something that does the job for you.

I'd rather find something (book/website/soft) that will explain the laws of harmony in a theoric way.

I got the basics, I know how to draw the circle of fifth, I know a few rules but I'm looking for something that goes really in depth about harmony.

The old school stuff but explained in a modern and clear way.

edit: thanks Lmusic
If you can draw a circle of fifths,then why cant you apply it in real time...in every key.
Its easy.
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:13 AM   #6
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If you can draw a circle of fifths,then why cant you apply it in real time...in every key.
Its easy.
ok thanks, but yea, I can draw it cause I learned how to but

1 I dont know it by heart (I got to draw my circle, write my C's, my A's, then I know it's FCGDAEB)

2 I dont really know how to use it properlly, I mean I know I can switch to the next key (inside/outside/left/right) but there's much more to it I beleive.

plus there's a lot more laws from what I understood, like for example you got to avoid having all your tones going in the same direction for the next chord and lots of stuff like that... I also know that in fact you can do whatever but for now I want to study the classic rules for a lil while, personal pleasure.

I'll get that Jazz Theory Book, looks like a good one.

thanks anyway.
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:15 AM   #7
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ok thanks, but yea, I can draw it cause I learned how to but

1 I dont know it by heart (I got to draw my circle, write my C's, my A's, then I know it's FCGDAEB)

2 I dont really know how to use it properlly, I mean I know I can switch to the next key (inside/outside/left/right) but there's much more to it I beleive.

plus there's a lot more laws from what I understood, like for example you got to avoid having all your tones going in the same direction for the next chord and lots of stuff like that... I also know that in fact you can do whatever but for now I want to study the classic rules for a lil while, personal pleasure.

I'll get that Jazz Theory Book, looks like a good one.

thanks anyway.
Do you play keys of guitar?
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:18 AM   #8
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like for example you got to avoid having all your tones going in the same direction for the next chord and lots of stuff like that...
There's nothing wrong with this, you probably read (avoid parallel fifths and parallel octaves w/ traditional 4 part writing).
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:23 AM   #9
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There's nothing wrong with this, you probably read (avoid parallel fifths and parallel octaves w/ traditional 4 part writing).
Wow i was in band and orchestra and i have no idea wat the f*ck u guys are talking about..... what genre are you creating for?
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:26 AM   #10
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Wow i was in band and orchestra and i have no idea wat the f*ck u guys are talking about..... what genre are you creating for?
Idk, he just wants to sharpen up his music theory knowledge. However, IMO, music theory is a means of communicating music, not creating it. From personal experience, it doesn't automatically make you good at producing music...but makes a lot of things easier.
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Old 7th February 2010, 05:40 AM   #11
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I know a lil bass guitar (my first instrument) but I'm focussing on keys actually.

Nah it's just that music theory seem a bit boring but once you try to go deeper than a couple of chord and scales you realise that stuff looks like super interesting in fact.
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Old 9th February 2010, 03:23 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lpuma View Post
I'm actually in the process of improving my music theory knowledge, I have all I need about scales and chords but I only found really basic stuff about harmony, I'd like to find a book/website that explain in details the laws of harmony (I know there's a lot) for classical music and jazz. any advice?
My standard advice, is to get The Jazz Handbook, (a free download) from the Aebersold website and The Real Book (start with volume 1), from Hal Leonard, to practice on actual songs.

The theory will make much more sense when you see it applied to actual music.

Cheers,
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Old 9th February 2010, 03:30 AM   #13
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hey! thank you so much!
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Old 9th February 2010, 06:59 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lpuma View Post
I'm actually in the process of improving my music theory knowledge, I have all I need about scales and chords but I only found really basic stuff about harmony, I'd like to find a book/website that explain in details the laws of harmony (I know there's a lot) for classical music and jazz. any advice?

Hello Brotha lpuma, here is a video series on harmony / music theory and keyboard, very good and free.
Also check out the related video's as well.
Good learning.

YouTube - bassicprincipal's Channel bassicprincipal's Channel








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjH4SFqNKtk&feature=related Circle of Fifths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg1YlV9Xhr4&feature=related Making Chords

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnvMxxgYlgo&feature=related 7 important piano chords

Hope this helps
& blessings.

Last edited by Reggmail; 9th February 2010 at 07:06 AM.. Reason: More Info
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Old 9th February 2010, 09:10 AM   #15
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Walter Pistons' Harmony is probably one of the best books on the basic fundamentals & advanced theories of harmony

Many well known music colleges use this book
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Old 9th February 2010, 09:53 AM   #16
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the best way to learn harmony is to go on youtube and learn how to play popular songs. They have alot of guys that will show you the chords. You said you know about chords and scales already, so use that to apply your knowledge. Learning harmony through books only will help you a little. Just because you learn music theory does not mean you can apply it creativly.
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Old 9th February 2010, 01:22 PM   #17
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Hey thanks for all that great stuff!

Yes Bigblessing but actually I spent years making music only by ear and wasnt even trying to use the few things I knew about music theory... I'm not in a quest for creativity, I'm really interested in learning the music math for the heck of it.
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Old 9th February 2010, 01:31 PM   #18
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i do 5 part harmony everyday as part of my living. Although Im not the main arranger I can tell you this. If you are looking for vocal harmony the best thing to is transcribe musical pieces that you like. Meaning follow each harmony one at a time until you get it all the parts. Disect it into sections. You said you know chords so after you've learned the parts, write down the chords they form You will then be able to see the "movement" of the harmony and counterpoint, etc. Theory -wise you can read the book all you want and it will help, but really the most important part is self study and applying it to the music that you like.
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Old 9th February 2010, 02:15 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Micah Tolentino View Post
i do 5 part harmony everyday as part of my living. Although Im not the main arranger I can tell you this. If you are looking for vocal harmony the best thing to is transcribe musical pieces that you like. Meaning follow each harmony one at a time until you get it all the parts. Disect it into sections. You said you know chords so after you've learned the parts, write down the chords they form You will then be able to see the "movement" of the harmony and counterpoint, etc. Theory -wise you can read the book all you want and it will help, but really the most important part is self study and applying it to the music that you like.
I said "a few chords" lol, but yea, thanks for the exercise! for now I need a better understanding of the terminology/math, for example I dont know the exact meaning of counterpoint (even if I guess it's realated to counter melodies or have something to do with rhythm)... you see I have a long way to go.

Edit: been watching some of these vids: the first dude (Milton) is very interesting, the last dude is trying to sell his "reference manual" beware, lol.
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Old 9th February 2010, 04:28 PM   #20
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Berklee College of Music here in Boston has some easy-to-read, well-written books on harmony that they use as texts for their classes. I'd see if you can't order some of them online.

In particular, you could check Boston Craigslist for used texts from students from the previous semester, though shipping overseas might negate the benefit of a cheaper book.

EDIT: I'd also recommend you track down a "Fake Book" (sometimes they're also called "Real Book"), which is a book of photocopied jazz charts that you can study and play to, which will help you train your ear as well as help you begin to notice harmonic patterns (ii V I turnarounds, for example).
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Old 9th February 2010, 04:38 PM   #21
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thanks for the advice!
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Old 10th February 2010, 03:13 AM   #22
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Northern Sounds has a forum up where they released 24 lessons on composition.

Garritan Libraries-Principles of Orchestration On-line - northernsounds.com

lessons 11-18 are about Harmony

Its really all about Orchestral composition so its sub sectioned like woodwind or brass but you should be able to find some cool stuff out that you can use
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Old 10th February 2010, 04:11 AM   #23
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I'm actually in the process of improving my music theory knowledge, I have all I need about scales and chords but I only found really basic stuff about harmony, I'd like to find a book/website that explain in details the laws of harmony (I know there's a lot) for classical music and jazz. any advice?
I learned about this book on GS and I swear everyone here should have it

The Pop Piano Book by Mark Harrison
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Old 10th February 2010, 07:59 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Micah Tolentino View Post
i do 5 part harmony everyday as part of my living. Although Im not the main arranger I can tell you this. If you are looking for vocal harmony the best thing to is transcribe musical pieces that you like. Meaning follow each harmony one at a time until you get it all the parts. Disect it into sections. You said you know chords so after you've learned the parts, write down the chords they form You will then be able to see the "movement" of the harmony and counterpoint, etc. Theory -wise you can read the book all you want and it will help, but really the most important part is self study and applying it to the music that you like.
+1000000000000000000000

There is no substitute for learning the language of music, and I don't mean the words in English to describe it, but the language itself.
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Old 10th February 2010, 09:22 PM   #25
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There is no substitute for learning the language of music, and I don't mean the words in English to describe it, but the language itself.
I'm sorry but chords scales and harmony are not words but grammar, nothing wrong with reading books to improve your writing skills but I dont see how studying grammar can be considered a substitute...

Thanks Delacroix340 and IM WHO YOU THINK for the links.
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Old 11th February 2010, 01:50 AM   #26
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Hey you can see it how you want. To me the closest equivalent would be song=story, section=chapter, phrase=sentence, rhythm=cadence, chord/harmonic structure=word, and note=letter. Grammer would be like for jazz you would use it's typical idiomatic concepts; shifting key centers, repeated chorus, modal solo structure. For classical you would use those ones, Sonata form, mostly triadic structure, etc. Just like if you wanted to write like Shakespeare you would use the appropriate grammer for that, vs Langston Hughes. But you can see it however you want.

All I'm saying is I wouldn't expect to learn conversational Japanese from a book, without trying to actually converse in Japanese. . .But whatever works, I did plenty of the book route and wish I would have dropped out of music school sooner and spent more time learning by ear (which is what I practice now), but YMMV. . .
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Old 11th February 2010, 08:06 AM   #27
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lol thing is I dropped from school like.... soon.

So yea you might be right about words and grammar but in my ignorance I classify shifting key centers or triadic structure with harmony or at least as being part of music theory and been aproaching those concepts my way in the last few days. So yea I dont see the interest in trying to analyse something lost in the dark attempting to guess the basic rules when I can have these explained before. I'm my own teacher, have goals and I'm making good progress fast, my way. This arguing is totally useless for me.
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Old 11th February 2010, 02:29 PM   #28
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Can someone give examples of different harmonies?

Im kind of confused as to what we are talking about.
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Old 11th February 2010, 02:54 PM   #29
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All I do is play the chord on my guitar and pick witch note out of the chord I want to use as the harmony...I must suck
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Old 11th February 2010, 09:14 PM   #30
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Can someone give examples of different harmonies?

Im kind of confused as to what we are talking about.
basicaly, from what I understood, harmony are the rules used to build chords and chord progressions, depending on the style/instruments you can have additional rules.
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