Music Term
What is harmony?
Definition
Harmony is the simultaneous combination of notes to create chords and chord progressions -- the vertical dimension of music, as opposed to melody (the horizontal dimension).
Harmony in music -- explained
Where melody is a sequence of single notes moving through time, harmony is what happens when multiple notes sound together. In Western tonal music, harmony is organised around a tonal centre (the key) and governed by the relationships between chords and the progression from tension to resolution. The three primary chords (tonic, dominant, subdominant) form the skeleton of most folk and pop harmony. Jazz extends this with 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th chords and chromatic substitutions. The emotional quality of harmony is deeply cultural but also partially physiological: consonant intervals (octave, fifth, major third) are perceived as stable and pleasant; dissonant intervals (minor second, tritone) create tension that the ear expects to resolve. Harmony can be functional (chords that serve clear tonal roles in moving toward or away from the home key) or non-functional (atmospheric chord clusters that don't follow tonal rules). Twentieth-century classical music systematically dismantled functional harmony; contemporary pop has reinstated it.
Notable examples of harmony
Good Vibrations -- The Beach Boys
Brian Wilson's vocal harmonies and modular chord structure are among the most sophisticated in pop history.
Giant Steps -- John Coltrane
Coltrane's Coltrane changes -- rapid modulation through three key areas a major third apart -- redefined jazz harmony.
Blackbird -- The Beatles
Paul McCartney's guitar tuning creates non-standard harmonic voicings that blur the distinction between chords and countermelody.
Related music terms
Frequently asked questions
- What is harmony in music?
- Harmony is the simultaneous combination of notes to create chords and chord progressions -- the vertical dimension of music, as opposed to melody (the horizontal dimension).
- What is an example of harmony?
- A well-known example is Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys: Brian Wilson's vocal harmonies and modular chord structure are among the most sophisticated in pop history.
- How is harmony used in music?
- Where melody is a sequence of single notes moving through time, harmony is what happens when multiple notes sound together. In Western tonal music, harmony is organised around a tonal centre (the key) and governed by the relationships between chords and the progression from tension to resolution.
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