Harmony (Advanced)

Voice leading explained - how individual notes move smoothly between chords. Essential technique for natural-sounding progressions. Free interactive lesson.

Chord voicings explained - open vs closed voicing, drop 2, and drop 3 techniques. How note arrangement changes a chord's character. Free lesson.

Tension and resolution in music - how dissonance creates anticipation and consonance provides release. Hear the pull of dominant to tonic. Free lesson.

Pedal points explained - how sustaining a bass note under changing chords creates tension, drama, and harmonic depth. Free interactive lesson.

Harmonic rhythm explained - how the rate of chord changes affects energy, pacing, and feel. Slow changes feel relaxed, fast changes build urgency. Free lesson.

Modulation explained - how to change key mid-song using pivot chords, direct modulation, and common techniques. Hear key changes with audio examples.

Chromatic harmony explained - passing chords, chromatic mediants, and chords borrowed from outside the key. How to add colour to progressions. Free lesson.

Reharmonisation explained - how to change the chords under an existing melody to create a completely different mood. Free interactive lesson with audio.