Harmony key words

features of music

Functional harmony

Chords progress according to tonic, dominant and subdominant functions.

Non-functional harmony

Chords are chosen for colour or sonority rather than tonal function.

2/3/4 chord progression that repeats

A recurring progression built around scale degrees II, III and IV.

Added 6th chord

A triad with an added sixth above the root.

Added note chords (7/9/11)

Chords extended by adding notes such as the 7th, 9th or 11th.

Appoggiatura

A dissonant note approached by leap and resolved by step.

Augmented 6th chord

Chromatic chord containing an augmented sixth interval, usually resolving to the dominant.

Circle of 5ths

Harmonic movement where roots progress by descending fifths (or ascending fourths).

Dissonance

A note or chord creating tension and instability.

Frequent perfect cadences

Regular V–I cadences that strongly reinforce the key.

Harmonic chromaticism

Use of chromatic notes or chords within harmony.

Pedal (dominant/tonic/inverted)

Sustained or repeated note under changing harmonies.

Slow harmonic rate of change

Chords change infrequently.

Static harmony

Very little harmonic movement

Sus4 chord

Chord where the third is replaced by the fourth.

Tritone

Interval spanning three whole tones.

Diminished 7th

Chord made of stacked minor thirds.

False relations

Chromatic contradiction between parts in close proximity.

Ground bass

Repeating bass pattern.

Pentatonic

Five-note scale.

Quartal

Harmony built primarily from fourths.