16.1: Functional Harmony and Syncopation Introduction
- Page ID
- 325254
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By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe common functional root position chord progressions
- Relate the Circle of Fifths to harmony
- Read and perform syncopated rhythms
Functional Harmony
Functional harmony is what we use to describe common Western music chord progressions that move as we expect. There are strong tones within our major and minor scales that need to resolve and follow certain rules for our ear to recognize the patterns of tension and resolution. A chord progression is carefully calculated to push the momentum of the music forward as we move toward the final cadence.
Syncopation
Syncopation happens when rhythmically, we take what is expected and we do the unexpected. Often, this means that we are missing notes that would normally be on strong beats or strong parts of a beat. It used to be that syncopation made listeners a little uncomfortable and uneasy, but we are now so used to hearing syncopation that it is common in our modern music.
Key Terms
- Syncopation: when a weak beat is emphasized in a rhythm
- Overtones: additional pitches that resonate at the same time as the played pitch
- Tendency tones: tones within a key that have a strong tendency to resolve in a specific direction
- Tonic triad: the triad built on the keynote of the scale
- Supertonic triad: the triad built on the second note of the scale
- Mediant triad: the triad built on the third note of the scale
- Subdominant triad: the triad built on the fourth note of the scale
- Dominant triad: the triad built on the fifth note of the scale
- Submediant triad: the triad built on the sixth note of the scale
- Subtonic triad: the triad built on the seventh note of the scale
- Primary chords: the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords in the key
Attribution: Chord progression from "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel. Arrangement for piano by Lauren C. Sharkey.