Essential+Harmonization

C major Prelude from WTC 1

A perfect introduction to understanding the basic of harmonization is to have look at the harmony of the harmony of C major prelude from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier. When we take the arpeggiated passages and reduce them to block harmony, we have essentially a straightforward chorale in C major. Notice how all five voices move smoothly from harmony to harmony. A great exercise for all of you would be to play through this reduction and, in turn, sing through all five parts, transposing octaves as needed. Seriously, if you practice this for a little while, you will instantly become a better musician!

Exercise:

Write a C major scale, how to use chord progression to harmonize it?

What is your steps?

1st we need to know all the chords in a major scale, their degree numbers and qualities. 2nd we need to figure out all bass note follow the chord progression. next is to work out the actual harmony (there are a few rules, we will study in the future)

Example 2 This is an example of using chords progression to harmonize an ascending minor scale and a descending major scale.

(N6 is called a Neapolitan 6th chord, do not worry about this now)

Exercise

Try to copy this example, try to harmonize a A minor ascending scale

use a II chord instead of the N6