Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Kumbaya.
Kumbaya
Kumbaya ("Come by here") is an African American spiritual song of disputed origin, but known to be sung in the Gullah culture of the islands off South Carolina and Georgia, with ties to enslaved West Africans. The song is thought to have spread from the islands to other Southern states and the North, as well as other places in the world. The first known recording, of someone known only as H. Wylie, who sang in the Gullah dialect, was recorded by folklorist Robert Winslow Gordon in 1926. It later became a standard campfire song in Scouting and summer camps and enjoyed broader popularity during the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s.
The song was originally an appeal to God to come and help those in need. WikipediA :
Kumbaya is in the The Daily Ukulele
— 365 Songs for Better Living book.
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Harmonic Analysis (HA)
A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.
A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a leadsheet
and minimal leadsheet information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets.
1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks …
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks, etc. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to an previous or 
section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to different section, a 
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If these 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks are not indicated then a Turnback chord(s) will be indicated in parentheses.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- Kumbaya is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of C .
Harmonic Principles Used:
Chords
Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;
Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet
G7 , a V chord can be use for a Turnaround when repeating the song.
Scale Selection
Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices.
Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book.
Performance Notes
A worksheet is often, really not needed with such a simple Full Diatonic chord progression.
A Simple I , IV , V chord progression. The Tonic , Subdominant and Dominant , the Primary chords of the major key.
In a short amount of time you'll come recognize these simple chord progressions, just by the chord grids listed at the top of the leadsheet (page).
Scale Choices
For a Full Diatonic chord progression the first choice scale is the Major scale in the key of the progression. A subset of the Major scale is the Major Pentatonic – the Major scale with no 4th or 6th scale degrees.
Links & Resources
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Kumbaya
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Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Kumbaya
.
Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Updated: 27 Feb 2023
Harmonic Analysis is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and is a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality.
Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Kumbaya
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: 10 Jun 2021
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.
The Daily Ukulele
Updated: 05 May 2022
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
