Tonal harmony is the foundation of most Western music, from Bach to jazz standards. At its core, it is a contract between composer and listener: if you follow its rules, the listener will always feel a sense of home—a tonal center called the tonic. This sense of direction comes from how chords function and move within three main... Continue Reading →
Jazz Harmonic Analysis using Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro 10
In this latest version of Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro, we've expanded the arrows and brackets analysis to include several new symbols that highlight some of the most commonly encountered harmonic progressions and cadences in jazz tunes, addressing some of the omissions from previous versions. These new arrows and brackets will undoubtedly enhance the analysis, providing... Continue Reading →
Learning Jazz Harmony the Berklee Way: Deconstructing ‘Misty’ – Part 2
Introduction: In this lesson, we will be discussing the harmony of the jazz standard "Misty" and applying some new techniques to "There Will Never Be Another You". This post is a follow-up to a previous video by mDecks Music, so make sure to watch Part One first if you haven't already. Learning Jazz Harmony the... Continue Reading →
Learning Jazz Harmony the Berklee Way: Deconstructing ‘Misty’ – Part 1
If you’re a songwriter or a musician, you may have come across the term “harmony” before. But do you know what it means? Harmony is the simultaneous sounding of two or more notes, creating chords that give a sense of structure and tonality to a piece of music. In jazz, harmony is the best tool... Continue Reading →
Unlocking the Magic of Jobim’s Harmony: A Step-by-Step Guide to ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ Jazz Harmony Lesson
Welcome to this jazz tutorial on Jobim's timeless classic, The Girl From Ipanema. Let's take a closer look at the intricate harmony of this song. https://youtu.be/45YK-YAUBX0 In this video we’ll see how Jobim's use of out-of-the-ordinary dominant chords is simply brilliant. It's no wonder why Jobim is known for pushing the boundaries of traditional harmony,... Continue Reading →
Music Analysis Showdown: Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro vs ChatGPT
https://youtu.be/dcjhUI3-n6I We compare and analyze Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro and ChatGPT's abilities in music theory and technology. We demonstrate how each tool can be used to understand harmonic progressions in jazz and compare their accuracy, speed, and ease of use. This video is perfect for musicians, composers, and music educators looking to enhance their understanding... Continue Reading →
How to spot and label Secondary Dominants. Music Theory / Tonal Harmony Lesson
If you're taking a harmony course, you've certainly come across the concept of secondary dominants and endless exercises, where you're given a piece of sheet music in which you have to label all the secondary dominants. Well, today I'm going to give you a simple trick to spot and label secondary dominants. We won't get... Continue Reading →
