Harmonic Analysis - Common Harmonic Sequences

Harmonic Analysis - Common Harmonic Sequences…

Im ImL+5 Im6

Examples of songs with this harmonic sequence are: Witchcraft, Secret Agent Man Theme.

This harmonic sequence is often called a line cliche.

Scale Choices:

• Aeolian (Natural Minor) on the Im7
• Harmonic Minor on the Im7+5
• Dorian on the Im6

Picardy Third

A Picardy Third is when a minor II V resolves to a Major I chord, not the expected Minor I chord. Rarely does the reverse happen where a major II V resolves to a Minor I . ( see Internal Modulation chapter )

Scale Choices:

• For the II V use Harmonic Minor of the I chord for a traditional sound
• Locrian of the II for a Contemporary, Modern Sound
• Ionian (Major) or Lydian of the I

Chromatic Sevenths

Examples of songs with this harmonic sequence are: Fever, Hit the Road Jack, Stray Cat Strut, Walk Don't Run (I, ♭VII, ♭VI, V), Tequila (I7 ♭VII7), Killer Joe (I7 ♭VII7).

Scale Choices:

• Ionian (Major) on the I
• Mixolydian +4 on the ♭VII7 and ♭VI7 chords
• Mixolydian on the V

Confirmation Sequence

The Confirmation Sequence gets its name from the great jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker’s song Confirmation. This sequence typically begins on the I chord of the key and works it way to the IV chord of the key using a series of II V 's. The IV chord would be a major chord type (major or seventh).

Here is an example from the song Bluesette By Toots Thielemans

Confirmation Sequence

This song could be initially labeled as:

*Secondary Dominant chords resolving to their I chords.

This sequence is better labeled as a series of II V Secondary Dominants resolving to their I chords, which serve as double function chords, both a I of the V and a II of the next cycle:

Scale Choices:

Refer to the Scale Selections lesson for scale choices/solutions.