Harmony Q5 Major

Finished cadences

Perfect - V / V7 - I

Plagal - IV - I

Unfinished cadences

Imperfect - any - V

Interrupted - V / V7 - vi

I chord progression

I - anywhere (excl. iii and vii)

ii chord progression

ii - V

ii - V7 - I/vi

IV chord progression

IV - I (plagal cadence)

IV - ii (falling thirds)

IV - V (imperfect cadence)

IV - V7 - I/vi

V chord progression

V - I (perfect cadence)

V - vi (interrupted cadence)

V - IV

V7 chord progression

V7 can only move to I or vi

vi chord progression

vi - IV

vi - ii

vi - V (imperfect cadence)

vi - V7 - I/vi

Strict forbidden rules

Never finish on V7

Avoid parallel fifths or octaves

Never use ii - I

Never use V - ii

Do not use second inversion followed by root position

Do not use vib

Only use chord Ic if it precedes a perfect cadence ( Ic - V - I)

Never double the third

Do not use the same chord in adjacent boxes

Step 1

Identify key, draw out chord box with full details (min/maj, sharp, flat etc) and V7 included

Step 2

Identify cadence points. Look for long notes, they usually occur at the end of a phrase, every 4 bars

Step 3

Identify non-essential notes in the melody

Step 4

Study each bar and add in pencil the chord options above each box

Step 5

Decide which progressions would be best and circle them

Step 6

Fill in bass - add semibreve bass notes of the root (or third if using first inversion), then go back and fill it in in the given style.

The bass notes must be in the correct alignment with the melody and chord boxes!

If using first inversion, make sure the melody note is not the third

Aim for contrary motion to avoid parallel fifths/octaves

Step 7

Fill in chord boxes with roman numerals.

Lowercase for minor, capital for major chord.

DOUBLE CHECK ONCE FINISHED!!

How to choose chords

Add the chord options at the cadence points first. Use finished cadence at the end of the piece.

You can use finished and unfinished cadences throughout.

Make sure cadences harmonise with the melody notes!

Fill in chord progressions using the list of good chord progressions.

You may have to change your chord choices based on the bass (e.g. to avoid parallel octaves)