UPDATED
Apr 6, 2012
Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection
Vertical and Horizontal scale selection.
PUBLISHED: Apr 6, 2012 UPDATED: Apr 6, 2012 • VIEWS: 4 • LESSON CODE: MLRMAe-10 •
Instruments: ukulele ANY music Subjects: advanced • intermediate • theory • scales • improvisation
All 4 sample page(s) are viewable on-line.
To view the pages at a larger size you can resize the browser window smaller to a tablet or phone size and the pages will magically grow larger. If you are a registered member and have the correct permissions.
This Download is NOT part of your LearningUkulele.com membership level. Sign-up for a Site Access or Upgrade your current access level to download this PDF or your can purchase a copy for download.
Each PDF file is a formatted high resolution file that prints out great. You'll need Adobe Reader or a PDF viewing application to view your PDF file.
Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection
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.
This lesson covers the vertical and horizontal scale selection.
Additional Content Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only
This content requires a Premium / Gold Access Plan and or enrolled in the Study with Curt - On-line or Private Lesson Program.
To view additional content for this page you'll need to either Sign In or Register for Premium Site Access or upgrade your current access level.
Login or SignUp to View Complete Page
Once a harmonic analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices.
Vertical Scale Choices
This is a scale per chord approach. When a new chord is encountered the scale is changed based on the chart below. This is a basic scale selection approach. Additional scales can be played against these chords using the same principles that are used with chord substitution (see the Substitution Principles chapter).
Chord Type |
Basic Scale (Starting on Root) |
|---|---|
Major |
Ionian (Major) |
| Ionian (Major) Lydian | |
m7 |
Dorian |
| Aeolian (Natural Minor) | |
| Harmonic Minor | |
mL7 |
Tonic Minor |
m6 |
Dorian |
7 |
Mixolydian (Dominant) |
Diminished 7 |
Diminished |
Augmented 7 |
Whole Tone |
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
- Harmonic Minor of the I chord traditional sound
- Locrian of the II for a more contemporary sound
Partial Diatonic
Use the vertical scale per chord 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
Unresolved
Cycle
Chromatic
- 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.
Download the lesson's PDF file for the latest, complete and most up-to-date version of the lesson. As well as additional information not presented on-line.
Members and Active Students need to sign-in
to download the premium lesson PDFs for the complete lesson.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection at this time.
Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series • Updated: Jan 6, 2020
Harmonic Analysis ( HA ) is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and has 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 can be made. This process is called Root Movement Analysis ( RMA ). This series of lessons are extracted from my book for use with individual private and on-line students. Each lesson directly corresponds the chapters in my book Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution by Curt Sheller (me).
Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths • Updated: Sep 3, 2020
There is a load of information in traditional Key Signatures. Unlocking the principles in this circle leads to a better understanding of music and how things work.
A key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.
Harmonic Analysis - Chord Substitution Principles • Updated: Mar 23, 2012
A Substitution is when a chord replaces or is used in addition to an existing chord. Chords can have an active or passive quality to them. Active chords tend to be restless and want to move on to other chords. Passive chords tend to offer a feeling of rest and resolution. This cycle of active and passive chords are what gives chord progressions their feeling of movement.
Harmonic Analysis - Worksheet and Examples • Updated: Apr 6, 2012
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. This lesson contains a blank worksheet and several completed examples using standards from the jazz repertoire.
Related Books
Related Books for Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection at this time.
Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets
Related Assets for Harmonic Analysis - Scale Selection at this time.
Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com
Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access, you get Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources, related assets, and ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for responding to any questions.
If your anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overload with everything on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once and your done.
The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee that is more material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE. That along is more than the cost of this plan.
Basic Access - A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — Completely FREE — Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER - I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt
NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on the schedule.
Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books! — Peter Rhee
Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the best — Glen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys
Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. — Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg
I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent. — fatveg — Portland
Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!
Original Curtie Animation from 1987 for my first web site on a Macintosh II.
33 years ago.
“Built for myself (Curt), and sharing with the `Ukulele community!”
LearningUkulele.com has one of the largest collections of lessons, songs, and TABS, luthiers, ukulele builders, ukulele festival and club information, and, ukulele links on the web. I’ve been on the ®Internet since the early 1990's and This site just never stops growing!!!
Content is added and updated almost daily - so check back often.