MSessions 2006-02 Reharmonization Secrets Part 1
MSessions 2006-02 Reharmonization Secrets Part 1
MSessions 2006-02 Reharmonization Secrets Part 1
Dont get intimidated by terminology here. Some of this we covered in previous articles, like our
Understanding the ii V7 I progression (link: http://mandolinsessions.com/dec03/ted.html ) or the
follow-up article Again the Tonal Centers: Understanding the 'ii V7 I' (link:
http://www.mandolinsessions.com/oct04/mandology.html). If you havent already read these, its worth a
review. We adhere to the principle and practice of learning the concept first and slapping a label on it
afterwards, so you can repeat the concept in another context. To accomplish this, well take a popular 70s
folk tune, Joni Mitchells Both Sides Now apply the above principles and give some intriguing new
harmonic color.
We begin
Take a look at this first line. Really, you could conceivably play the entire first 4 measures on just a G
chord, but even the casual folk musician would usually add the C (IV) in Meas 2, and D7 (V7)in Meas 4.
Not particularly jazzy, but it fits the melody and is familiar to even the unsophisticated ear.
Get Prepped
Another variation is to add a Dominant Preparation (#2) before the (you guessed it) Dominant. Here
well add an Am chord. Note weve stretched the rhythmic meter a bit by moving this chord to the very
beginning of the measure. It works, because in essence, weve used a simple ii V7 I harmonic sentence
to verify the key of G Major. (Again, its all about the destination.)
Turnaround, too.
Another favorite variation is # 3, Include a Turnaround. You may have heard this phrase already; its
common for jazzers to refer to this at the end of a song as a way to detour and come back to the
beginning of the song. You will hear Swing musicians use these regularly in the last 2 bars of a 12-bar
blues progression. Generally its a variation of the familiar Doo Wop I vi7 ii7 V7 (G Em7 Am7 D7).
Note: we dont leave the key at all (Diatonic for those of you keeping score), using no accidentals.
You arent limited to the end of the song for the Turnaround! You can use it in any harmonically stagnant
section, and well use it here in the very beginning of the song.
Why is it okay to end this on the Dominant chord D7? Because the 3rd Measure is in G Major, and again,
weve shuffled things up a bit, but will start the next measure appropriately. Were already nicely running
down the path of reharmonization.
Pleading the 5th...
Speaking of accidentals, and working backwards, another common Turnaround is to take the Dominant
of the Dominant (A7), and precede it with the Dominant of the Dominant of the Dominant (E7). (Yikes!)
For the uninitiated, this is called the Circle of Fifths (E7, A7, D7). Though it may be a bit of a stretch to
the ear, here well actually try it here in the first two measures. The G# of the E7 and the C# of the A7
chord clash with the melody; but the speed of the harmonic motion in these two measures (the chord
progression to the destination), sets us for beginning of the 3rd measure, still in the key of G. (It does work,
especially in improvising when you arent necessary including the melody.) This is #4 Include a Circle of
5ths Turnaround.
Lets look at the next two measures for another trick and continue the principles. Again, rather than start
with the traditional G chord, were going to start preparing for the final G by inserting our Dominant
Prep chord Am. Have some fun and add a jazz flavor by a lowering the 5th to an Am7(b5).
The next two beats are your Dominant (D7), but were going to delay gratification by embellishing with
the Gdim7 chord. This momentarily lowers the 3rd and 5th degrees of the chord, resolving to a lovely Tonic
Gmaj7 chord.
The next four measures of the song are quite similar harmonically. You can play with these variations on
this section, and well follow up in the next issue on ways to reharm the last half of the song. Meantime,
have some fun with these four tricks.
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