Harmonizing a Melody

Learn about harmonizing a melody: understand voice leading principles

🎵 Stage Brief #22

Roman numeral analysis labels chords by their position in the scale: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.

🎯 Your mission

Two notes together — does it feel calm or tense?

⚡ The twist

If your ears think it sounds 'off' — that's the harmony asking to resolve.

What you'll learn

Roman numeral analysis labels chords by their position in the scale: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.

Remember

🎧 Listen

Listen for this

🎧 When the chord changes, your mood changes. Notice when.

🌟 Artist spotlight

🌟 Bach wrote so many harmonies he basically invented the rules everyone still uses.

🤯 Mind = blown

🤯 The same chord can sound happy in one song and sad in another. The CONTEXT does it.

Check your understanding · 1 of 3

What does 'consonant' mean in music?

Check your understanding · 2 of 3

What is a chord?

Check your understanding · 3 of 3

What is a triad?

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

🎯

We'll pick a music lesson that matches exactly where your ear is right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you hear this: The reason songs make you feel things is harmony doing its quiet job underneath.

🏆 Try this week: Listen to any song. Try to hear the bass line.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Play one song together. Talk about what feeling it gave you and why.”

Send it to a parent who wants 5 minutes of music with their kid — no instrument required.

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