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Learning Ukulele with Curt
Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: RMA1
Main Category: Theory Main Instrument: Any
Categories: Jazz, Reference, Theory, Progressions, Songwriting, Modes, Intermediate, Advanced
24 June 2026
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Sign In for Access…Product Info
- Product Code: RMA1
- Author(s): Curt Sheller
- Publisher(s): Curt Sheller Publications
- Published: 2 January 2003
- Updated: 8 June 2024
- ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-2-7
- Size*: Book ANSI A (8.5 x 11 in), PDF A4 (210 x 297 mm)
- Pages: 88
- Hard Copy Price: $19.95
- PDF Price: $9.00
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Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
Excerpt from Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
2023 Update: Checkout the related LessonSERIES : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection . This series contains the latest updates as well as additional web only material that is not in the latest edition of the book.
Forward
The understanding of a chord's function within a chord progression or song is the first step in the process of scale selection for improvisation and creating melodies,as well as applying the principles of chords and scale substitution. It’s also the only way that can accurately be used to determine the correct name of a particular chord.
Introduction
This book focuses on the following:
- Analysis of Chord Functions within Chord Progressions
- Scale Selection Based on Chord Function
- Chord and Scale Substitution Principle
More Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
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More Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
“Chords can not be named out of context. They can only be named in the context of a chord progression or chord sequence and then only when the chord's harmonic function within that progression can be determined.” — Curt Sheller — Curt Sheller
“That's the single most sensible statement about music that I've read in months, maybe years. Thanks, Curt.” — John Kavanagh - The 4th Peg Parlor Room
The chord progressions in this book employ the principles that occur in Tonic-Dominant harmony used in the Jazz and Popular songs widely considered to be part of the "standard" jazz repertoire.
A special thanks to Chuck Anderson for many of the concepts put forth in this book. As well as Glen Hirabayashi with help in editing this second edition.
Basic Concepts
Harmonic Analysis (HA) is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression, song or composition. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root and a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's root to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality. Once a chord's function is identified, scale selections along with chord and scale substitutions are made. We call this process Root Movement Analysis (RMA).
Root Movement Analysis
Root Movement Analysis is the process of determining the root movement of chords within a chord progression, song or composition, the chord types as well as identifying tonal centers. This root movement can be determined and categorized using one of six harmonic principles and the harmonized chord charts contained in this book. These principles six harmonic principles will be covered in the next chapters.
The Harmonized Chord Scale
A chord, in music, is any harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more (usually three or more) notes. The most common collection is created by the stacking of intervals of thirds. These thirds are a combination of major or minor thirds. These three note chords are called triads. Four notes make up 4-part chords, five notes make up a 5-part chord, all the way up to chords that include all the notes of the scale. These chords create a Harmonized Chord Scale that is used for a Root Movement Analysis. For the purposes of harmonic analysis this book uses triads and 4-part chords only…
- Introduction
- Basic Concept
- The Harmonized Chord Scale
- Root Movement Analysis
- The Six Harmonic Principles (Overview)
- Full Diatonic
- Determining Tonality
- Partial Diatonic
- Secondary Dominants
- VI7 - V of II
- VII7 - V of III
- I7 - V of IV
- II7 - V of V
- III7 - V of VI
- Chained Secondary Dominant Cycles
- Diminished Chords?
- Determining a Modulation
- Pivot or Double Function Chords
- Common Modulations
- Common Major Keys
- Common Chord Progressions
- Chord's Harmonic Function
- Im ImL7 Im7 Im6
- Im7 Im7+5 Im6
- Picardy Third
- Chromatic Sevenths
- Confirmation Sequence
- Vertical Scale Choices
- Horizontal Scale Choices
- Full Diatonic Chords
- Partial Diatonic
- Internal Modulation
- Unresolved
- Cycle
- Chromatic
- The Lydian Scale Uses vs Ionian Scale
- Direct Substitutions
- Replacement
- Expansion
- Substitution Characteristics
- Superimposed
- Non Superimposable
- Note Substitution
- Inversions
- Linking
- Re-harmonizations
- Diatonic Substitutions
- Passive
- Active
- The Minor Third Substitution Principle
- bVII7
- bII7
- III7
- Major Key
- Minor Key
- Harmonic Minor
- Tonic Minor
- Ionian
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Aeolian
- Locrian
- Blues Major
- Blues Minor
- Pentatonic
- 2024-06-08 - New A4 size and updates and a few new additions.
- 2021-06-10 - Page 17 - Line 1 of the first Key Center, Chord Function chart. The Dm should be I IV7 bVII7maj7. Not I IV7 #Imaj7
- 2021-04-12 - Updated the Locrian chart header on page 81. Characteristics Scale Step the fifth (5th) of the scale not the second. This is also changed on the "The Modes Tonal Tendencies" page 74 of the charts section.
- 2006-06-02 - Updated ISBN number to new ISBN-13 number.
- 2004-10-24 - 20041024.1.1 - Fixed a few typos.
- 2004-04-12/ - New color cover.
- Version 200401252230
- 2004-01-25 - Several changes made and additional common progressions added.
- 2004-01-19 - Page 78 Aeolian chord chart D Aeolian row wrong. All future versions of the book will reflect this change. Version 200401201100
Not Really an Errata Item
I, (Curt) just dug up my handwritten RMA worksheets of a bunch of songs and scanned them for historical or historical purposes — your call ;-).
