Skip to main content

Using Connecting Tones to Create New Chord Progressions

I'm going to share with you a simple but effective technique to spice up your chord progressions: using connecting tones.

What are connecting tones?

Connecting tones are notes that link two chords together by creating a smooth transition between them. They can be either chord tones (the root, 3rd or 5th of a chord) or non-chord tones (any other note that is not part of the chord).

Why use connecting tones?

Connecting tones can make your chord progressions sound more interesting, melodic and coherent. They can also help you avoid awkward jumps or gaps between chords and create a sense of direction and movement in your harmony.

How to use connecting tones?

There are many ways to use connecting tones, but one of the most common and easy methods is to follow these steps:

1. Choose a chord progression that you want to work on. It can be any progression that you like or are familiar with, such as a I-IV-V-I or a ii-V-I.
2. Identify the highest note of each chord in your progression. This will be your melody note for each chord.
3. Find a way to connect each melody note with the next one by using either a stepwise motion (moving up or down by one scale degree) or a chromatic motion (moving up or down by one semitone).
4. Adjust the other notes of each chord accordingly to maintain the quality and function of each chord.

Let's see an example:

Let's say we use connecting tones on this basic chord progression in C major: C-F-G-C.

The highest note of each chord is:

C: G
F: C
G: D
C: G

To connect these notes smoothly, we can use stepwise motion like this:

C: G
F: A
G: B
C: C

Notice how we changed the highest note of F from C to A, and the highest note of G from D to B. This creates a nice ascending line from G to C.

Now we have to adjust the other notes of each chord accordingly:

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

We have created new chords by using connecting tones:

Cmaj7: C E G B
Fmaj7/A: F A C E
G7/B: G B D F

These chords are more colorful and expressive than the original ones and still preserve their function and quality.

You can also use chromatic motion instead of stepwise motion, like this:

C: G
F: Ab
G: A
C: Bb

This creates a different kind of ascending line from G to Bb.

We have to adjust the other notes again:

C: C E G
Fm/Ab : Ab C Eb 
G/A : A D F#
Bb/C : Bb D F 

We have created another set of new chords by using connecting tones:

C6/9 : C E A D 
Fm/Ab : Ab C Eb 
D7/A : A D F# 
Bb/C : Bb D F 

These chords are more adventurous and surprising than the original ones, and they still preserve their function and quality.

Using connecting tones is a great way to create new chord progressions from existing ones. You can experiment with different types of motion (stepwise or chromatic), different directions (ascending or descending), different registers (high or low) and different combinations of chords.

The possibilities are endless!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new today. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Happy music-making!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Stories: The Power of Audiation in Music Composition

Happy Sunday! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of audiation in music composition and share an inspiring story about a composer who mastered this skill. Audiation, the ability to hear and understand music in your mind, is a crucial tool for composers, enabling them to bring their musical ideas to life with greater detail and precision. What is Audiation? Audiation is the process of hearing and comprehending music in your mind without any external sound. It is similar to thinking in a language, where you can understand and manipulate words and sentences internally.  For composers, audiation is an essential skill that allows them to imagine, develop, and refine their musical ideas before they are played or written down 1 . The Benefits of Audiation for Composers 1. Enhanced Musical Understanding Audiation helps composers develop a deeper understanding of music. By hearing and analyzing music internally, they can grasp the relationships between different musical elements, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

Exploring Minimalism in Music Composition

Minimalism is a fascinating and influential movement in music that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by simplicity, repetition, and gradual change, creating a hypnotic and meditative effect. This blog post will delve into the principles of minimalism in music composition and how you can incorporate these techniques into your own work. What is Minimalism in Music? Minimalism in music is a style that focuses on reducing elements to their simplest forms. It often involves repetitive patterns, steady pulses, and a limited harmonic palette. The goal is to create a sense of stasis and gradual transformation, allowing listeners to experience the subtle changes over time. Key Characteristics of Minimalist Music Repetition : Minimalist music often features repeated motifs or phrases. These repetitions can create a trance-like state and highlight small variations. Steady Pulse : A consistent, steady beat is a hallmark of minimalist music, providing a rhythmic foundation that s...
Post a Comment
Read more