Grade 6 Theory (AGAIN....), Good General Knowledge - Rubbish at Harmonising Options

[Pixie*Porsche]

Right the good is my general questions (4 &5) seem more or less top mark worthy YAY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) So no problem recognising chords etc.

BUT I'm still really struggling with question 1 - harmonising a melody - there seems far too many rules to learn! I would love to learn all this to start writing some music of my own and I have a real interest in taking theory further but I'm really struggling with harmony. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I play the piano but am too afraid to try to experiment with improvision (OH is an AMAZING improviser on piano, doesn't really even have to think about chord structure, whether it's root position or first inversion or sometimes second inversion etc.) No idea if this has always been easy for him or not and it's just me who is struggling massively with harmony.

[Sunrise]

Right the good is my general questions (4 &5) seem more or less top mark worthy YAY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) So no problem recognising chords etc.

BUT I'm still really struggling with question 1 - harmonising a melody - there seems far too many rules to learn! I would love to learn all this to start writing some music of my own and I have a real interest in taking theory further but I'm really struggling with harmony. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I play the piano but am too afraid to try to experiment with improvision (OH is an AMAZING improviser on piano, doesn't really even have to think about chord structure, whether it's root position or first inversion or sometimes second inversion etc.) No idea if this has always been easy for him or not and it's just me who is struggling massively with harmony.

Yes, it's not easy...and there are loads of rules, you just have to know them. Learn the more common progressions like iib-V-I etc as they help, and also remember the progression of 5ths...

1 4 7 3 6 2 5 1 as this helps putting chords one after another.

Play them on the piano, the more you do this the easier it is to "see" the harmonies....

[denmark77]

Harmonising a melody does seem a huge hurdle at Grade 6, and I sympathise as I remember how I struggled with the same question some years ago. But the work it requires will pay dividends, especially as it is a really useful skill to be able to harmonise anyway, as your OH has found. Further theory work will seem much more secure once you grasp this challenge, so go for it.

Bear in mind that the Primary Triads - I, IV and V - are still the most commonly used, even at Grade 6: I and V especially. You can vary them by using first inversion chords ('Ib, Vb'), at places other than cadences, for variety. Remember only use second inversion chords in 'Ic - Va - I' cadential progressions.

The advice from Dawnmc71 is really worth trying - play (at the piano) the harmonies as suggested in ABRSM model answers and in the workbooks for Q1 (however slowly) to get accustomed to the sounds.

Certainly use the Progression of Fifths to get a grasp of how smooth chords sound, when used in the order: I - IV - vii - iii - vi - ii - V - I. Notice that the last three chords form the basis of the cadential progression ii - V - I ?

I also found the following helpful - start at the end - complete the final cadence first - and work backwards. (I found that cadences are the most important bit to get right). You could be surprised how well this works...

Good luck

denmark

[Pixie*Porsche]

I am starting at the cadence points and working my way backwards, so thats a start!

I struggle were theres a couple of possibilities and with "should it be in the root position or first inversion?" I'm OK with second inversion because it can only be used in certain places, so thats covered.

Is some of it purely down to your own choice? This is my confusion as I don't want to lose marks over what I am writing when there is more than one choice. OR am I over thinking this?

[sbhoa]

I am starting at the cadence points and working my way backwards, so thats a start!

I struggle were theres a couple of possibilities and with "should it be in the root position or first inversion?" I'm OK with second inversion because it can only be used in certain places, so thats covered.

Is some of it purely down to your own choice? This is my confusion as I don't want to lose marks over what I am writing when there is more than one choice. OR am I over thinking this?

If you know where to use the passing 6/4 this often fills in a gap or two.

[linda.ff]

I am starting at the cadence points and working my way backwards, so thats a start!

I struggle were theres a couple of possibilities and with "should it be in the root position or first inversion?" I'm OK with second inversion because it can only be used in certain places, so thats covered.

Is some of it purely down to your own choice? This is my confusion as I don't want to lose marks over what I am writing when there is more than one choice. OR am I over thinking this?

First inversions are useful for helping you to get a smooth bass line, for avoiding the chord sounding too "final" (particularly if you've got a few root positions of the same chord in a row), and occasionally for avoidance of consecutive 5ths or octaves between parts.

Don't forget you can also use the second inversion if the bass is stepping up or down through it - sometimes called a passing 6-4