Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection

Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection…

More Vertical Scale Choices

Horizontal Scale Choices

Scale choices can be made based on the overall tonality of a progression or portions of a progression using horizontal scale choices. The scale will stay in effect until the analysis requires a different scale.

Here are the scale choices applied to the Six Harmonic Principles.

Full Diatonic Chords

Full Diatonic Major

• Use the Major scale of the I chord

Full Diatonic Minor

• Use the Natural Minor scale of the I chord on I and III chords
• Use the Harmonic Minor scale of the I chord on V and VII chords
• Use the Natural Minor scale or Harmonic Minor scale of the I chord on II , IV , and VI chords

Sample Scale Choices for II V of a II V I Minor

• Harmonic Minor of the I chord traditional sound
• Locrian of the II for a more contemporary sound

Partial Diatonic

Use the Vertical Scale Choice approach.

• For Seventh chords resolving up a perfect fourth (or down a perfect fifth) to a major chord type use a Mixolydian scale.
• For Seventh chords resolving up a perfect fourth (or down a perfect fifth) to a minor chord type use a Mixolydian -2 -6 scale.

Internal Modulation

• Use a Full Diatonic or Partial Diatonic solutions.

Unresolved

• Use a Full Diatonic or Partial Diatonic solutions.

Cycle

• Use a Full Diatonic or Partial Diatonic solutions.

Chromatic

• Use a Full Diatonic or Partial Diatonic solutions.
• For Seventh chords functioning as a bII7 , bIII7 , bV7 , bVI7 , or bVII7 use a Mixolydian +4 scale.

Alternate Scale Choices

Alternate scale choice should be based on the same principles as chord substitution.

The Lydian Scale Uses vs. Ionian Scale

If a major chord is not in a full or partial diatonic progression then the Lydian scale is the better vertical scale choice.