what si harmonization?

R

rurokenji

Guest
Hi guys,

time after time on this forum, i see the word "harmonize/harmonization" mentioned in posts. I was just wondering, what exactly is it? And is it something i need to use when making beats? From my understanding, is it when everything is flowing and in the same scale? Please, correct me if i am wrong

edit; harmonization/harmony in terms of beat making

Thanks!
 
harmonise/harmonisation is about the applying of chords to a melody

for any given melody there are many ways in which it can be harmonised, all of them "right", but some seem more "right" than others

for example the melody of twinkle twinkle can be harmonised as follows



[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/twinkle-01.mp3[/mp3]

C / G / | F / G / | F / C / | G / C / | G / F / | C / G / | G / F / | C / G / | C / G / | F / G / | F / C / | G / C / ||

but this alternate version is also quite possible and far more interesting



[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/twinkle-04.mp3[/mp3]

Dm7 / Am7 / | Bbmaj7 / Ebmaj7 / | Gm9 / Fmaj9/A / | Em9 / FAdd9 / | Ebmaj7 / BbMaj9 / | Fmaj7 / Bbmaj9 / |
Abmaj7 / Bb9 / | C9 / Am11 / | Dm7 / Am7 / | Bbmaj7 / Ebmaj9 / | Gm11 / Fmaj9/A / | Ebmaj9 / Dbmaj9 / ||

each of the melodic tones is rendered in the harmony is as follows
b7-b7-7-3-9-7-7-5-3-5-7-3-7-5-3-11-b7-b7-7-3-9-7-7-7

Abmaj7Ab-C-Eb-G1-3-5-7-9
Am11A-C-E-G-B-D1-b3-5-b7-9-11
Am7A-C-E-G--1-b3-5-b7-9
Bb9Bb-D-F-Ab-C-1-3-5-b7-9
Bbmaj7Bb-D-F-A1-3-5-7-9
BbMaj9Bb-D-F-A-C-1-3-5-7-9
C9C-E-G-Bb-D-1-3-5-b7-9
Dbmaj9Db-F-Ab-C-Eb-1-3-5-7-9
Dm7D-F-A-C1-b3-5-b7-9
Ebmaj7Eb-G-Bb-D1-3-5-7-9
Ebmaj9Eb-G-Bb-D-F-1-3-5-7-9
Em9E-G-B-D-F#-1-b3-5-b7-9
FAdd9F-A-C-G-1-3-5-9
Fmaj7F-A-C-E1-3-5-7-9
Fmaj9/AF-A-C-E-G-1-3-5-7-9
Gm11G-Bb-D-F-A-C1-b3-5-b7-9-11
Gm9G-Bb-D-F-A-1-b3-5-b7-9

then this one, a little different to the two above:



[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/twinkle-03.mp3[/mp3]

C / G / | Am / Em / | Dm7 / Am7 / | E7 / Am / | C / Dm7 / | A7 / D7 / |
A7 / Dm7 / | E7 / G7 / | C / G / | Am / Em / | Dm7 / Am / | G7 / C / ||

lastly this one which changes chord every beat:



[mp3]http://www.bandcoach.org/fp/audio/twinkle-02.mp3[/mp3]

C Dm7 G Dm11 | Am Dm/F Gsus4 G7 | Dm F C/G Am | Dm7/F G Csus4 Am | G Em F Dm7 | C/E Am/C Gsus4 Dm7 |
Em G F Dm/A | G Am Gsus4 Bm7b5/D | C Am G9/B G | Am F G7sus4 Em | F Dm Em C | Dm7 G7 Csus4 C ||

click on the images to open as a full size version (ca. 3000px x 700px)
 
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Ah, so it's like adding a sort of bass/accompaniment (the chords) that gels with the main melody? If so, i think i will use it next time. So, how does one work out the chords to play to accompany the melody? Are they chords based off the root note of the melody, playing? Or is it, more of experiment and see what chord sounds good with the melody, playing?

I think, i get it now. And haha, i love the second sample!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
chords can be based on any tone - perhaps better said as chords can take the melody tone and make it any tone within the chord - see the example 2 above

as for choosing what works and what doesn't
- suck and see is perhaps the best advice to give
- although some of the old standard methods still apply regardless of your chord choices
- look for progressions that enshrine V-I or V-i or i-V or I-V
-- in the second harmonisation the progression could be analysed as follows (using C as the base key)

ii7 - vi7 - bVIImaj7 - bIIImaj7 - v9 - IVmaj9/6 -iii9 - IVAdd9 - bIIImaj7 - bVIIMaj9 - IVmaj7 - bVIImaj9 - bVImaj7 - bVII9 - Idom9 - vi11 - iim7 - vim7 - bVIImaj7 - bIIImaj9 - v11 - IVmaj9/6 - bIIImaj9 - bIImaj9

If we now refocus the analysis as being in Eb (Eb becomes chord I), we get some interesting twists but a more solid indication of direction

vii7 - #iv7 - Vmaj7 - Imaj7 - iii9 - IImaj9/#4 - #i9 - IIAdd9 - Imaj7 - VMaj9 - IImaj7 - Vmaj9 - IVmaj7 - V9 - VI9 - #iv11 - vii7 - #iv7 - Vmaj7 - Imaj7 - iii11 - IImaj9/#4 - Imaj9 - bVIImaj9
 
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