Close Harmony Version 3

This time we start with the 1st inversion A minor chord. The closest possible D minor chord is a root position chord. Again it has a common tone A, and the other two notes of the chord move minimally; one note moves up a half-step and another moves up a whole-step. Pitchwise, from low to high, we get:


C to D - up whole-step (2 frets)

E to F - up half-step (1 fret)

A to A - same pitch


We move back to the A minor chord. Next we look for the closest possible E minor chord. This happens to be the 1st inversion shape E minor below the A minor. Again, the note E is a common tone. The other two notes of the chord move minimally. One note moves down a whole-step and another moves down a half-step. Pitchwise, from low to high, we get:


C to B - down half-step (1 fret)

E to E - same pitch

A to G - down whole-step (2 frets)


Also, remember we are altering the E minor chord (v) to an E major chord (V) in order to get that leading tone modulation of the major 3rd of the V chord to the root of the I chord: G# to A! We'll do this on the last measure of every cycle before we start again.

Christopher Schlegel
Instructor Christopher Schlegel
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
Close Harmony Version 3 song notation

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