Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
Instrumentality

A mad musical adventure

Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
  • Harmony
  • Theory

Quartal harmony – a chance to throw away the rule book

  • May 31, 2021
  • admin
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The overwhelming majority of Western music is harmonised in 3rds. Starting with the root, you move up two notes in the scale to find the 3rd, then do the same again to get the 5th, the 7th, and so on up to a possible 13th. That’s how harmonies between voices and instruments are created and that’s how conventional chords are formed.

But there is an alternative and that is to layer in fourths and, as I recently discovered, this is called quartal harmony. Yes, it does sound a bit weird and yes, it’s therefore primarily a tool for harmonisation in jazz, but it’s also edgy and unsettling which means it could be a useful tool for a wide range of composers given the right application.

If you harmonise the C major scale in fourths, you get these chords:

C F B E
D G C F
E A D G
F B E A
G C F B
A D G C
B E A D

If you wanted to play these chords on a guitar, you only need a few shapes played on the middle four strings:

I’ve created my own example based on quartal harmony:

In case you’re interested, I used the following virtual instruments to create this track:

Electric Piano: Vintage Keys from Native Instruments
Drums: Studio Drummer from Native Instruments
Bass: Substance from Output
Vocal samples: Exhale from Output
Strings: Action Strings from Native Instruments
Effects: Sheperd Risers from 8Dio

I’m not sure I can see myself using quartal harmonies that often but I really enjoyed the experience of trying them out. Who knows, you may find the same?

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
admin

Previous Article
  • Harmony
  • Theory

Raising the odds – from 7ths to 13ths

  • May 24, 2021
  • admin
View Post
Next Article
  • Progressions
  • Theory

One progression, two very different melodies

  • June 7, 2021
  • admin
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Progressions

Are two chords really enough?

  • admin
  • March 16, 2022
View Post
  • Harmony

Walking with Pythagoras

  • admin
  • January 11, 2022
View Post
  • Progressions

The Chorale is OK by me

  • admin
  • November 5, 2021
View Post
  • Ensembles
  • Melody
  • Theory

Amanecer – a Phrygian dawn

  • admin
  • August 30, 2021
View Post
  • Rhythm
  • Sparks

Playing with time

  • admin
  • July 19, 2021
View Post
  • Harmony
  • Magic
  • Theory

In search of the lost chord

  • admin
  • July 5, 2021
View Post
  • Magic
  • Melody
  • Theory

Suspended delights

  • admin
  • June 28, 2021
View Post
  • Magic
  • Progressions
  • Theory

Amazing descents – the enduring beauty of the lament bass

  • admin
  • June 21, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instrumentality
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
A mad musical adventure

Input your search keywords and press Enter.