How To Use Quartal and Quintal Harmony and Melody In Your Compostions

In this episode we explore how to use Quartal (Based on 4ths) and Quintal (Based on 5ths) chord Harmony and Melody in Your Compositions. It has been used by composters such as Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Bartok, Debussy, Scriabin, Hindemith, Stravinsky and Bernstein. It has also been used heavily by jazz artists such as Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evens, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Pat Martino and Pat Metheny.
Links To Follow:
If you are interested in purchasing The Beato Book please with me at [e-mail]
KZbin - / rickbeato
Facebook - / rickbeatoproduction
Instagram - / rickbeato1
Twitter - @rickbeato
www.nuryl.com
www.rickbeato.com

[@unhealthytruthseeker]

Fifths move in a "brighter" direction while fourths move in a "darker" direction. To see this, note that a stack of 7 perfect fifths gives a Lydian scale (e.g. FCGDAEB = F-Lydian), which is the brightest mode of the diatonic scale, while a stack of 7 fourths gives a Locrian scale (e.g. FBbEbAbDbGbCb = F-Locrian), the darkest mode of the diatonic scale.

[@appleihate5678]

Also, Lydian is the inverse mode of Locrian.

[@lordofchimichangas2302]

I get an "ambiguous" feel when hearing fourths.

[@Vent69420]

@@lordofchimichangas2302 thats prob cuz the locrian scale has a diminished fifth

[@eucalyptus303]

Cool! Incredible insight into this pattern! And they’re both mirror images interval-wise, and a tri-tone apart. I had no idea🤔

[@Breakbeat90s]

Stacking fifths on the fourth scale degree and stacking fifths on the seventh scale degree result in the same set of pitches. Obvious for everyone who knows modes, but usually you'd memorize the notes in consecutive order. If we take the scale degrees of the main functions (tonic, subdominant, dominant) and stack fourths on them they'll approximate the same set of pitches as using the scale degrees of the secondary functions and stacking fifths on them. And that's only the beginning, for quartal harmony you'd love to sneak in augmented fourths, perhaps you could just use flattened fourth and immediately use the enharmonic equivalent of the major third to transition from quartal to tertiary harmony seamlessly.

[@manifestgtr]

i think what makes 4th and 5th based harmony so nice is that it really straddles the line between consonance and dissonance...it's that nice "in between" sound that isn't as friendly as a 3rd or 6th but isn't as jarring as a b9 or a tritone

[@kolobcanyon8920]

I wonder what stacking tritones sounds like... goes to piano

[@kolobcanyon8920]

Never mind. There's only two notes if you stack tritones.. duh

[@karlrovey]

But you can include tri-tones in quartal and quintal harmonies.

[@die_schlechtere_Milch]

a tritone is an augmented forth.

[@kiren3168]

@@kolobcanyon8920 stack minor 2nd lol have fun

[@MatthewBreithaupt]

5:22 Whitesnake Is This Love 6:19 Kraftwerk Trans Europe Express

[@stefan1024]

I experimented with stacked 4ths and microtonality the last days. I stacked 7 notes, spaced by randomly choosen microtonal intervals in the range from major 3rd to tritone. The results are very colorful and vibrant, also emotional expressive (more complex than just minor = sad or dominant 7 = tense), suprisingly musical and jazzy (I play melodies in normal tunings over these chords). It's not even that dissonant most of the times. I guess it's because the intervals are large enough to avoid too much direct friction between the frequencies, also in combination all the little tensions seem to even each other out.

[@jeffrogers210]

Two stacked fifths, separated by a half step (C, G, D, Eflat, BflAT, F) is one of my favorites. Also, ELP's Tarkus is made of quartal harmony and melody.

[@maduroholdings]

I thought you were a rock guitar guy but you are waaaaayyy more than that. a multi instrumentalist Yoda. with a touch of Spock simply amazing I played keys in church for 18 years I'm taking a break to build my guitar, bass and production chops but this was a nice reminder of my bread and butter instrument. thank you sir for your insightful sharing. and keeping this music alive

[@MrDrummer316]

I keep watching this, stunning sounds full of emotion. I would feel blessed to know half of what you have forgotten. Thanks for your great work.

[@AimeeNolte]

Wonderful, insightful video, yet again! Thank you!

[@zesvo]

WOW, Rick Beato, and Aimee Nolte on the same page, my 2 favorites!

[@bashsportosas1293]

Love ❤ Aimee Nolte

[@johnnewell552]

Rick’s love of Lydian tonalities (aug 4th) has opened my eyes to this beautiful sound and it’s possibilities. So much to explore on that alone and I appreciate it so much!

[@JamesWatsonComposer]

Lol. Wow, that was an accurate assumption. "Now to many of you, the first exposure to quartal harmony would've been in the Miles Davis classic, 'So What'."

[@leeboulineau8100]

If not "So What" , then Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage".

[@simmme]

Or Studio Ghibli.

[@RichardASalisbury1]

To me, one of the most magical moments in music is the middle movement of Bartok's 2nd Piano Concerto, which starts with stacked 5ths in the strings. From a historical perspective, I find it fascinating, almost inexplicable, that Charles Ives anticipated such usage by at least a quarter century in "Central Park in the Dark"--though Ives alternated fifths and maybe fourths with passages of less open, more dissonant chords. I found this video (you are new to me) very interesting, and maybe helpful to me in my own composition; I will probably recur to your videos.

[@jobemusic2770]

I can finally understand the value in this video! The first time I watched it, it just went over my head as to how it can be used haha! But after watching your channel for a while and exploring the sound of Miles and Coltrane, a universe of unexplored sounds have opened up! Thank you ever so much Rick!

[@ETtexthome]

8:09 - sounds very similar to the end of Purple Rain! Great work, Rick. All of your video lessons are extremely inspiring, eye-opening, and refreshing.

[@SamFugarino]

I'll be honest. this stuff is way over my head, but hearing Rick tell it is wonderful. He's a teacher.

[@arthurmee]

This is third time I've watched this. Just need to remind myself and enjoy your clear and inspiring teaching Rick. Thank you once again. I've got your book and transcriptions . . . :-)

[@gradypatterson1948]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Alan Parsons Project's "Rubber Universe" as an example of Quartal Melody! The lead synth makes an arpeggiated Quartal tritone the melodic theme. Just enough swing is added to make it funky and bright and bouncy - a great example of why APP's instrumentals are so great!

[@PhilGooch]

This is one of the most informative and well-explained tutorials on putting music theory into practice that I've seen. Brilliant stuff, thanks so much for this Rick, you are a fantastic educator.

[@lovrogolac5243]

"So what that is" when reffering to "So what" enters a whole new dimension! Phenomenal videos Rick, precise and direct with an awesome distribution of knowledge. I'm extremely grateful for the help :) As a guitarist, songwriter and video game/aspiring film composer, you're really the perfect match. Thank you so much good sir!!!

[@Predictor13]

This knowledge about harmonies based on fourths and fifths and their different combinations is very inspiring and allows us to take our compositions to another level. Very valuable collection material. Thanks Rick!

[@knucklesprayer]

Podría estudiar todo el resto de este año y el qué viene con tus vídeos, Guitarra, Jazz, Composición, Film Scoring, Entrenamiento Auditivo. Todo lo qué necesito en mi vida. Thanks my friend!

[@alfonshomac]

_"I could study the rest of this year and next with your videos. Guitar, Jazz, Composition, Film Scoring, Ear Training. It's all I need in my life."_.

[@gerardwhitemusic8214]

lindas palabras amigo! beautiful words my friend! :-)

[@goingfortheone1]

Some more examples: Stravinsky! Scriabin! Who based much of his musical language around the "mystic chord" which was largely quintal. Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The god damn entirety of Tarkus.

[@StevenRosario2025]

I'm not theory nut... just a lowly band director, but 19:08 is straight up rehearsal no. 49 of Rite of Spring's Spring Rounds. Except in that case it looks to be Eb quartal vs. Rick's played F.

[@Aquatarkus96]

Keith Emerson LOVES quartal harmony, it's all over his work and one of the things that set him apart from contemporaries like Banks and Wakeman

[@goredwings1212]

Thanks for this! I have to figure out how to choose the right notes for a quartal harmony to improvise in a jazzy piece my ensemble is performing--this is a very new concept to me and I've been pretty stiff and hesitant with it the last few rehearsals. This gave me a lot to work from and helped me see how flexible this style of harmony can be. Much appreciated!

[@hannahjordan1515]

I'm so happy I found your channel! You've helped me so much with my composition. I'm studying a bachelors degree in music and was lacking inspiration, but you've given me loads so thank you

[@maestrocurtis8904]

I'm a music educator who Played in the Basie and Ellington orchestras and i really dig the simplicity of how you teach. keep up the great work my musical brother! gonna make sure my students start subscribing.

[@AnthonyWoodruffe]

Those Quartals remind me of the opening to Star Trek.

[@zitacarno4443]

I once had an interesting conversation with McCoy Tyner about harmonic concepts and approaches, and Irealized that both of us picked them up from one main source: the music of Paul Hindemith, one of my very favorite 20th-century symphonic composers. He was using the quartal and the quintal voicings particularly in his middle-period works, both orchestral, chamber-music and solo-instrument, and I for one got absolutely hooked on that sound. So when I would hear McCoy play them I got that goosebump of recognition---at we must realize that Hindemith was, among other things, a bebopper.

[@jackieturner4561]

Love those sounds. I notice some one said 4ths are darker and 5ths were brighter. Don't know if this is relevant but 4 4ths reach a minor 3rd. Whilst 5 5ths reach a major 3rd. Cheers

[@William_sJazzLoft]

Hi Rick. This is an excellent video. I was particularly fascinated with the Aeolian and Dorian arpeggiations. And then between 16:54 and 18:34, you demonstrated parallel fourths. That in particular kept my attention. It took me a little bit but I figured out what you did. And yes those movements are hip. And certainly no discussion of quartal harmony is complete without mentioning McCoy Tyner. I have to mention Acknowledgement from A Love Supreme. At one point during the tune, McCoy does a progression ascending and descending in half steps using stacked fourths. It just blows me away every time that I listen. I know that tutors and instructors generally use Impressions or So What as a point of reference. But I think that Acknowledgement is a case study in the practical application of quartal harmony. Thx 4 this video - Will ☺😎👍

[@RasiRon]

Fantastic I wish more people would watch your video this one particularly

[@lassewilliamsson9152]

This is so inspiring, thanks for sharing Rick! Berg violin concerto is starting with a lot of stapled fifths, a good classical example of Quintal harmony. :)

[@vintageclouds9510]

1:00 Intro of the animated series 'Recess'. Never knew I was hooked to Quartal and Quintal from the early teen.

[@musicgeek246]

Love your videos Rick. "Production wise" - would you consider using an "over the shoulder" shot when you demo on keyboard? Maybe it's just me, but I would find it easier to take in what you're doing from the orientation of a keyboard player rather than having to reverse the image mentally. Thank you.

[@MrRichulan]

I like the high level lessons of professor Beato! Very educational!

[@mo0omo]

Kurt Rosenwinkel’s work is full of Quintal harmony since around “Next Step”, then “Remedy” etc

[@cerumen]

0:26 is also part of the opening of Disney's Recess (transposed, with another 4th stacked on top)

[@pathaks1]

As a first time listener on quartal and quintal sounds, it is very exciting on particularly in voicing

[@freddymunguia9810]

You should really make a video explaining in detail how is modal voicing performed and voicing over extended dominants. Great as usual, Rick, love your videos ❤.

[@martinskanal]

Love it! What a great dude you are! Sharing the love and the music...all the power to you!

[@gregbartlett5818]

Love your video lessons. I've been playing for decades off on and on (earning a living gets in the way) - your lessons are easy to understand but always so insightful. Can't wait to get back to my keyboards....:-))

[@Soloist1983]

First quartal chord I ever heard was in the movie Tremors, during the scene where they first get stuck on the rocks, replayed that scene for the chord like 50 times when I was 16

[@TomRivieremusic]

Beautiful voicing opening new horizons.Love it.

[@badradish2116]

this is probably your most useful video i've yet seen. gonna need to come back to this several times.

[@garfd2]

One thing I've noticed is that the notes in the diatonic scale can be arranged in six perfect fourths, from vii-iii-vi-ii-V-I-IV, and of course fifths would be the reverse. Another observation is how subsets of that set of P4/5s give you certain chords. For example, a min11 spans 5 (9-5-1-11-b7) which is why you can only get 2 of them out of the diatonic scale. A maj triad and a min7 span 4 even though they don't use all the notes which is why there are only 3 in the diatonic scale.

[@kiren3168]

All notes from the major scale are next to each other in the circle of fifth. Also its modes.

[@juancarlos-dx1or]

Just discovered your channel and so far i think is the best one in youtube dedicated to music education,congratulations from Argentina, and keep the good work!!

[@roberta4266]

Absolutely wonderful!!! Thank you, Rick for explaining all this. I'm very grateful.

[@pieceoffake7443]

This video is so good. Had no idea you made this kind of content back in the day.

[@vBlackVFX]

11:10 gives instant Keith Emerson vibes!

[@amenramuxikllc5658]

WOW, THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

[@alwalw3692]

7alt chord can be a stack of 4th: 3 - b7 - #9 - b13 - b9 - b5 - 1 aug4 between 3 - b7; b5 - 1 . all others are P4

[@steffen5121]

I was thinking about how classical composers are always the avant garde of music, experimenting with new instruments and exploring new harmonies. And then 100+ years later comes the pop music culture (including film/program or general pop music) that integrate and cultivate the made findings in their music and make it popular and accessible for the masses. And at the same time, the "old masters" (being really the musical scientist avant garde of their time) get cemented as the "classical" composers, since the masses got used to their styles. It's amazing. To think that the at first sight inaccessible classical works of today are really the frontier of the current musical science and will be the classics of in a 100+ years, while the pop music of that time will embrace their harmonies and instrumental use... Of course this hypothesis is at many sides biased but these are the thoughts that flew through my mind at this moment. Peace.

[@utubewillyman]

6:19 Kraftwerk Trans-Europe Express

[@zumasuma5489]

Thank you! Best teacher ever !

[@jusplainmark]

Around 8:10, the voicings began reminding me of Ives' "Three Places in New England", 1st mvmt. That sound of stacked 4ths, with the main melodic interval/ motif based on minor thirds, or major-to-minor thirds. (The harmonization is more complex, of course- polychordal at times, but the stacked 4ths flavor is there)

[@fkahs]

as always... this is pure GOLD! thanks Rick!

[@WillsJazzLoft]

My first exposure to quartal voicings was Acknowledgement on A Love Supreme. I remember I was sixteen or seventeen and I sneaked into my Daddy's record collection while he was at work. I don't think that he ever found out. It seems that he never played the record when he was at home. I suppose that the tonal ambiguity was a little bit much for him.

[@sver3]

6:35, also Kraftwerk, trans europ express.. :)

[@ericprincen3345]

Very inspired by this. Lots of fun today. Thanks, Rick.

[@jfo3000]

Amazing sounds Rick and explanations, thanks for all that you've done for us.

[@scottmckenna9164]

A very public minded master at work.

[@corilfl]

At parties, I just keep strumming my guitar without fretting and saying "Look, I'm like Miles Davis now!". They don't like it very much.

[@giantessmaria]

reminds me a lot of Aaron Copeland ....thanks Rick, another fantastic lesson!

[@0xGEEK]

STAR TREK is another famous example, I guess. (I mean the opening melody before the spoken words and the main theme... duh! ;)

[@chicofariasguitar]

Congratulations for the chanel! Could you post something about Gospel Chords, Neo soul tritones, like new keyboardists uses in golspel music, artists like Trina Trine, Kim Burrel, Dobbie Powel, Cassandra O'neal and Cory Henry for example. Thanks!

[@MrMangaman1]

Jeff Schneider covers a lot of those topics in videos that are very in depth, seriously consider checking those out if you haven't already, Kerry 2 Smooth covers the same topics but from a guitar perspective, and related to specific songs, again worth checking if you haven't already

[@Sophiestelle]

Thank you Rick for sharing your knowledge; this is a very useful for my job!

[@samocholewacizl4427]

When you were doing McCoy (dont know who he is btw). The first thing I though of was strings of light by Youssef Kamaal and the 1st chord that the "strings" play. Which now that I listen to it should be some kind of quartal voicing.

[@DubCampbell]

Rick...PLEASE....I have to know! When you're making a video, what mic are you using and where is it placed? I can't see a mic but it sounds great for your voice and I want to learn how you do it. I don't think it's a lapel mic so is it a shotgun on your camera or ??? Thanks, I'm a huge 70 year old fan of yours...played guitar all my life professionally and don't know diddley...but thanks to you I'm coming along. Dub Campbell

[@JordanPool13]

All I hear is LOZ Ocarina of Time with that string patch

[@KlareAudio]

Jordan Pool right? Sounds like the part where you pick up the master sword

[@radiozelaza]

Wow, old game Mega Lo Mania comes to mind, it had powerful quartal chords in the intro music...

[@motherbrain2000]

great topic- but some sort of graphic or at least the text that was in the beginning of the video would be super helpful throughout. Great channel- we can all agree.

[@patbreacadh]

Excellent lesson! Thanks, Rick.

[@lukejav818]

Hey Rick i loved this lesson and some of those voicings are just incresible. I would like to see more of this stuff applied on guitar

[@JRandallS]

20:47 I think you might have said that F to B was a perfect fourth. I love this stuff. Great soloing ideas. Oh and your rack is killing me with those Neve's and all...I subscribed today.

[@123jozef]

I haven't watched this one yet, but I've read the comments....maybe Rick will talk about the "Devils Tritone" and Jimi Hendrix and the Roman Catholic church......arrrgggghhhhhh!!!! Unbelievable that people can put such huge impacts to their lives behind just a note or two...and then again...it's just a note or two that made me pick up the guitar in the first place....hmmmmm.... irony... "From then until the end of the Renaissance the tritone was regarded as an unstable interval and rejected as a consonance by most theorists. The name diabolus in musica ("the Devil in music") has been applied to the interval from at least the early 18th century, though its use is not restricted to the tritone....." just...... amazing.....

[@123jozef]

The minor key doesn't have to sound sad, the tritone may be dissonant but doesn't have to be "evil" and pop music doesn't have to be loved. Just cuz you can't sing it or resolve it peacefully and harmoniously doesn't make it "wrong'... does it? Rick, I have a feeling you could elaborate for days on tritones without having any relation to spirituality........ (can't wait?)

[@UrMom-kr5jx]

Shut up

[@MarcoManuelS]

in 13:06 the audio and video are out of sync! It never gets fixed. Does anyone else see it? Or maybe it's my computer

[@getrealman998]

It's not your computer, it's the video. It seems to happen to his older video's.

[@carlosdurancomposer]

Awesome, reminds me of the music of Joseph Schwantner

[@RickBeato]

Thanks Carlos!

[@scizatt]

Incredible! Sounds just like Thomas Newman's work in Shawshank!

[@Covesthur]

My first introduction to quartal harmony was Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Tarkus"

[@きんぐぐーちゃん]

Really loving these sounds

[@rjp63vip]

Wow! This is beautifully Sublime! Thank you!

[@brainey8]

Thanks! hearing a lot of things that remind me of UK's "Thirty Years"!

[@sonorstudio1]

That F Mixolydian - G Aeolian triggers me to studie, that's fantastic ! Yeah than comes that plaining thing ! Oewha, like I've been waiting for that.

[@jteichma]

Astounding Rick, but saddening too as I fear I'll never come close.

[@Jdman5000]

Stunning video ! Brilliant...

[@DaveSolazzo]

love these videos! thanks again!

[@Tazmanian_Ninja]

Arigato, Master Beato! 🙏🏼

[@stevemartin4249]

Excellent video ... still way beyond my beginner's jazz guitar. Just a heads-up about spelling in the description ... 'compostor', Bill 'Evens' ... will delete this post after acknowledgement. Otherwise, great stuff - wish I had started music when I was younger.

[@pixelatedparcel]

Steve Martin Started one year ago, at 54...

[@pedromartins6904]

Love your lessons Rick, could you please do a video about negative harmony please?

[@Oscar-bv5fe]

Pedro Martins Jacob Collier has a couple of recent videos on here that might start you off

[@pedromartins6904]

yes I know, but my question was done before those videos were uploaded. Anyway, it´s still a new and complex concept that I would like if Rick could discuss and explain better

[@donallfinn]

Negative Harmony? Da Fuq?

[@ricardolacquan]

A lot of Lyle Mays stuff can be found on this lesson . Thanks allot!

[@guiterslayer6013]

interesting enough you could embed Miles Davis tune "So What" for when your tuning your guitar except for the last string since it's a major 3rd to E or a 4th descending to B :]

[@MomLAU]

Hey, Rick, no one has mentioned this, but I'd say that the original "Law & Order" theme has 'em also (in the melody/chords in the first part). Am I right, anyone? Those _are_ quartal voicings, right?

[@Tmidiman]

Great stuff Rick!

[@RochestersGotTalentbyPaulRefic]

your a few universes above me i love it

[@thumbthump]

After I finish all these videos can you just issue me a Master's Degree? Got the Baccalaureate and haven't been interested in going back to school...

[@landervast]

Evil Twin Brother by Thomas Dolby uses those augmented fourth interval chords

[@gerardwhitemusic8214]

really excellent video on quartal voicings!

[@saxfish]

< I´ve been watching You in SloMo...( to give it more absorbtion time ) . You sound so drunk ( and or), hiGh.... chEErs!¡ Jajaja > I PAUSED the video in one of those frozen moments ... I´m trying to follow what you do and you´re playing one-of-those-crEEpy chords and you gotta see your face ! I felt I had an out-of-body experience when we where looking at each other in the eYes...My Respects. Real gOOd stuFF are YoU ! >

[@Butts666]

lay off the mushrooms, sir

[@yarlodek5842]

Quartal harmony is more “spacy” whereas quintal harmony is more “cloudy.” I don’t know if that made any sense.

[@Utahguitar75]

That progressing harmony you were doing it about the 31 minute mark sounded a lot like the transition into city of the sun by Kevin Gilbert.

[@ArgoBeats]

beautiful, just beautiful..

[@Schrenkiboy]

great Videos!! One of my favorite quintal-voicings was missing though, the one only a half step away for the b3-b7-11 voicing... like that sound quite a bit... greetings from Germany, keep up the good work! Simon

[@stevenamoikon8594]

the part from 11:11 to 12:47 is WONDERFULL is it possible to play on guitar ?

[@keris3920]

steven Amoikon Why don't you try it?

[@xydex99]

I've found playing fourths on guitar to be a little weird given that they're right under each other? What have you found?