Pedal Point Technique

Learn about pedal point technique: understand consonance and dissonance

🎵 Stage Brief #18

Harmonizing a melody starts with finding which chord tones the melody notes belong to.

🎯 Your mission

Stack the sound. Find the sweet spot.

⚡ The twist

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

What you'll learn

Harmonizing a melody starts with finding which chord tones the melody notes belong to. Then choose chords that contain those notes.

Remember

🎧 Listen

Listen for this

🎧 Listen for the SECOND voice underneath the main one.

🎼 Notes on the staff

Tap a note to hear it

🌟 Artist spotlight

🌟 The Beatles' three-part harmonies were so tight they sounded like one voice.

🤯 Mind = blown

🤯 Your brain can hear an out-of-tune note even if you've never had a music lesson.

Check your understanding · 1 of 3

What is harmony?

Check your understanding · 2 of 3

What is a chord progression?

Check your understanding · 3 of 3

What is an interval?

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: Sing any note. Then sing one that goes WITH it. What does it feel like together?

👨‍👩‍👧 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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