harmonic progression

Harmonic language

• western music of the “common practice era” developed around a set of melodic and harmonic conventions:

• tonal system: all pitches/chords heard in relation to tonic

• directional harmony: tonic —> harmonic travel —> tonic

• harmonic function: each chord progression possesses a T, PD, or D function

Tonal music: Music based on the tonic

tonic function- I(i), vi(VI)

dominant function- V and V7(V and V7), viio and viio7(viio and viio7)

predominant- vi(VI), IV(iv), ii(iio)

NEVER USE iii

Patterns for functional progressions

T—> D —> T

or

T —> PD —> D —> T

cannot go: D —> PD —> T (harmonic retrogression)