Edit: The free ebook ‘How to Hamonize’ is now available. Click here!
How can I harmonise my melody?
You can harmonise any melody using just three chords.
Really? Great! Which three?
I, IV and V.
Erm… no, you’ve made a mistake, chords have letter names: A, C, F, G…
They do, but they can also be given numbers. Roman numerals are used to generalise. Every major scale is different, but they all have the same structure, so they have the same kind of chords. Chord I is always a major, chord IV is a fourth up and major, chord V is a fifth up and major.
For example: in C major the three chords are C, (made up of CEG), F (FAC) and G (GBD).
The notes in this scale are C D E F G A B C. Every single note of the scale can be found in those three chords CEG, FAC, GBD.
But how does that help me add chords to a melody?
Okay, let’s take a look at a well known melody:
Oh when the saints, go marching in
C E F G C E F G
Oh when the saints go marching in
C E F G E C E D
Here’s just the melody: Download
If you have a good enough ear, you’ll be able to hear that most of those two lines fit with one chord. If you know enough about music theory you’ll be able to see that the vast majority of the notes used are from the C major chord: C, E and G.
The only notes that don’t fit with that chord are the Fs and the D at the end. Now the Fs don’t happen on important words, they fit with the word ‘the’ and because they fall on weak beats, we can pretty much discount them when choosing our chords.
The D on the other hand isn’t in in our C chord, and it falls on a strong beat, the first beat of a bar. Therefore we need to change. Which primary chord has a D in it? G major (GBD).
Here’s the melody with those chords added:Download
In the next post we’ll take a look at how to find chords for the rest of ‘Oh When the Saints’.
[...] This post is about vocal harmony. If you’re thinking about adding chords to your melody, check out this post: Basics – How to Harmonise a Melody using Primary Chords [...]
Good post, especially for those less well-versed in theory. When you say, however, “The D on the other hand isn’t in in our C chord, and it falls on a strong beat, the first beat of a bar. Therefore we need to change. Which primary chord has a D in it? G major (GBD),” I tend to disagree. I think that’s very appropriate for pre-Romantic classical music, but, for instance, Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You” has a I, ii, IV progression in the chorus, and each of the notes is a non-chord tone, even on the strong beats.
But I suppose you’re talking on a basic level. Thanks for that. Most people (like myself) start assuming the readers know more than they do. Good job, Tom.
- Stephen
http://www.songwritten.org
Hi Stephen,
Absolutely you are right, but this post is about using just the primary chords. You’ve pretty much guessed where I’m going in my next post however
I’m enjoying your blog by the way
Tom
Hi Tom,
What can’t you go to D minor instead of G major when you are harmonising The Saints?
Emelia
Hi Emelia,
Thanks for your comment. To answer it, I’ve written a whole blog post. Click Here.
you doing a great job.
However i would like to know why was (The) taken to pronoun as(F)in the above song.
Thanks.
Martins
You are doing a great job.
Pls I would like to know why was (The) Pronounce as (F) in the above song.
Thanks
Martins