Back to: Jss1 Cultural and Creative Art (C.C.A)

Harmony and Ear Training

The capacity to recognise the pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms and other fundamental parts of music only via hearing is known as ear training. The use of this talent is comparable to taking dictation in spoken or written language. Formal musical instruction often includes ear training.

Four-Part Harmony

This is music that was composed for four voices, or four instruments, and in which each component contributes a different note to each chord. “Normally, the melody will be sung or played by the first of the four parts, and the accompanying harmonies will be played by the other three parts. The four components seldom share the same note, therefore this makes it uncommon.

Two-Part Harmony

The music in which the two sections sing or play separate notes is that which is composed of two voices or two instruments.

Concepts of Harmony

The rudiments of harmony are as follows:

• Base your composition upon chord i, iv,v and v7

• Double the root or the 5th

• Do not double the 3rd, except in chord iii

• Always include the 3rd

• Do not double the leading note (7th) of any chord (in chords iii and vii)

• No two voice parts should move in consecutive 5ths or 8ves

• Make use of non-harmonic tones

• Rules of stem positioning should be strictly followed

• “tee” must rise to “doh”. However, it may be transferred to other parts.

• Soprano and Alto may be as close as 8 feet apart, but no further; Fenor or Base may be.