How to Harmonize a Fast Moving Melody - Music Composition

Discover how to harmonise a fast moving melody with chords. The temptation is to harmonise every note, resulting in a harmonic rhythm that moves too quickly. We explore how to determine which notes are harmony notes / chord tones and which are inessential notes / non-chord tones. We examine one fast moving melody and consider how to harmonise every note, how to delivery the melody with a slow moving harmonic rhythm, and how to discover a sensible middle ground.
⬇️Download the files
drive.google.com/file/d/1su9D...
🔴 Subscribe for more videos just like this: / @musicmattersgb
🎵 Become a Music Matters Maestro: / @musicmattersgb
👕 Merch store: / @musicmattersgb
🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to how to harmonize a fast moving melody
0:47 - Playing the printed melody
1:00 - Common mistakes
1:51 - Using inessential notes
8:08 - A version with simple harmony
10:41 - Other chord decisions
15:00 - Playing the finished piece
15:09 - Conclusion
🎓 Learn Music Online with Music Matters
Learn music theory, aural tests, composition, sight reading, orchestration and more! Prepare and practice for music exams and diplomas with Music Matters Courses. Whether you're just getting started with learning music, or you're an experienced musician looking to expand your abilities - we have something for you in our course library. With hours of step-by-step training, our courses will truly help you elevate your musicianship skills to the next level.
www.mmcourses.co.uk
👥 Social Media
Website: www.mmcourses.co.uk
Facebook: / musicmattersgb
Twitter: / musicmattersgb
Instagram: / musicmattersgb
Newsletter: eepurl.com/dvgdUD
🔗 Affiliate Links
Amazon: geni.us/71PKSR
#MusicComposition #MusicMattersHarmony #TheAllRoundMusician

[@MusicMattersGB]

Learn Music Online - Check out our courses here! www.mmcourses.co.uk/courses

[@banaverhel]

Mr. Green, Thank you kindly for your work. You are single-handedly educating thousands of amateur musicians and composers.

[@MusicMattersGB]

You’re most generous.

[@g.p616]

This guy is simply the greatest communicator on the internet, bar none… and the fact he has a musical brain the size of a planet also helps!!

[@MusicMattersGB]

You’re far too kind.

[@ethanscottrichards4911]

This was taught so well! Can't wait to try it out

[@MusicMattersGB]

Most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Very Instructive, Bravo !

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad it’s useful. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@isaacdillon630]

I think the concept of “less is more” definitely applies here

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@NomeDeArte]

Love this short videos. So much to think about. Thank you, best regards from Argentina!

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more to see at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@twilightbiscuit]

another wonderful music channel, thank you for doing this 🔥💯

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure

[@jayducharme]

Perfect timing! I'm working on a piece where these concepts will come in very handy.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Excellent

[@FondueBrothers]

I'm happy to report that I managed to follow everything you've said in this video. It must be finally sinking in.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s fabulous. Much more to assist at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@macshebly4330]

Thank you very much Mr Green, this time i got it.

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure

[@bbhaded2760]

Thank you for all your videos🙌🏽🔥 they really help💫

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@LohPro]

thank you very much! i've just gotten into experimenting with reharmonization & this vid just happens to pop up =)

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad it’s helpful. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@MartinMcAvoy]

Thank you for creating this video.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@romandubois6473]

Great videos as always

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad it’s helpful. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@HishamKhalaf1]

Very Great. Thank you.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad it’s helpful. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@rickard.eriksson]

Been through hundreds of music theory "teachers" teaching, music theory, and i had so many questions. Saw one episode with Gareth Green, and a lot of questions where answered. Saw a few more episodes and i can see a clear structure and pattern. I will most likely enroll in the music theory grades 1-8 bundle.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Go for it. It will cover all the ground you need, step by step.

[@Micro-Moo]

In America, 'u' in “neighbour” is an auxiliary tone. 🙂

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@sean-michaelmcvie5904]

Good video. Amen.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@philmckenna5709]

Tbf I quite liked the very first example!

[@MusicMattersGB]

Excellent

[@knd1986]

Harmonic rythm is a very important aspect to be conscious of while harmonizing or composing. A decision in harmonic rythm greatly determines the feel and energy of the piece. Thank you for a great lesson Gareth! What would keeping a pedal bass while changing harmony does to a phrase/period, can you generalize it in a sentence please?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Harmonic rhythm is important. Pedal points tend to build tension.

[@pathaks1]

Nice

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@iggykarpov]

15:48 😅 Harmonic pneumatic drill!!!😅 Brilliant!!!😅😂😊

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀😀

[@martinbennett2228]

I like your use of the VI chord in the second bar. When I saw the line I immediately thought it would be I V7 I V7 I, but your 'in between' harmonies are not only effective as harmonies, but provide a strong bass line. To me it sounds good but I wonder if a the double descent to a C by the top and bass lines in the second bar might be criticised.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thanks for that. I don’t think there’s a problem with that.

[@nguyenyang9854]

In the first phrase I still don't understand why G and B were chosen as essential notes? Do we choose it because it belongs to the primary-chord or because it's right on the beat?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Essential notes are notes that belong to the chord.

[@randolphmitchell6851]

I wonder if chorales and hymns, written for 4 voices singing a text, led a generation to think in terms of a chord per melody note? I know when I'm trying to write music, my hymn/chorale background often leads me to think in terms of 4 (rarely 2 or 3!) independent voices sounding on every "syllable", which in turn leads me to overly-complex harmonic rhythms.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Good observation

[@Mazurking]

2:52 I laughed out loud 😅😅😅

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@nguyenyang9854]

how to harmonize a fast and syncope melody? (notes that are not right on the beat)

[@MusicMattersGB]

Either put the chords on the beat or on the syncopations.

[@nguyenyang9854]

@@MusicMattersGB If I put a chord in between 2 syncopations notes, should I choose the note before or the note after to put the chord?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Either will work depending on the circumstances. Try it both ways and see which you prefer

[@sproduction346]

🎉❤

[@MusicMattersGB]

Most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@chrismunroe8015]

More baroque Bach Chorale mush. Doesn't apply in contemporary music. But, true, one does not need to harmonise each note in a melody.

[@MusicMattersGB]

It’s amazing how much does apply.

[@chrismunroe8015]

@MusicMattersGB The elements of music apply but if one writes music using Baroque Bach Chorale theory, the result will be Christmas music and Hymns every time.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Have you ever heard the jazz adaptations of Bach. They’re amazing yet the melodic lines, the harmony and the use of motives are almost identical.

[@chrismunroe8015]

@@MusicMattersGB Can you show me the Bach Chorale theory on a contemporary piece like: John Legend's All Of Me?

[@MusicMattersGB]

@chrismunroe8015 That could be an interesting future video. Meanwhile have a listen to Swingle 2 perform Bach and you’ll immediately hear how it works in a much more contemporary context.

[@beethovensg]

Meastro is a genius.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad it’s helpful. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk