Harmony in Music: Understanding the Secrets of Emotional Depth
Summary
In this article, we dive into the world of music harmony with musician Jacob Collier. Starting from the basic definition of harmony, Collier gradually builds the complexity around this concept, elaborating on different types of chords, their relationships, and the use of natural sound series. He also touches on negative harmony and how it can be used to create emotional polarity. We also explore the importance of using harmony to convey emotions in music and a personal experience on breaking out of a creative rut.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Harmony as the Injection of Emotion in Melody
- Exploring Triads, Major and Minor Chords, and the Circle of Fifths
- The Influence of Overtone and Undertone Series in Harmony
- Creating Harmonies: Compatibility of Notes, Bass Notes, and Inversion
- Negative Harmony and Emotional Polarity
- The Importance of Conveying Emotions in Music
- Breaking Out of a Creative Rut: A Personal Experience
- Conclusion
Introduction
The world of music is vast and often misunderstood, especially from a non-musician’s perspective. While it is easy to enjoy music for its surface elements such as melody, rhythm or beats, it takes an expert for one to truly appreciate the intricacies beneath it. One such element is harmony; the backbone of Western music. Harmony is what gives an emotional depth to a melody and is used to create a rich and intricate musical landscape. In this article, we sit down with Jacob Collier, a renowned musician, and learn more about the secrets of harmony that make music a universal language.
Q&A
Understanding Harmony as the Injection of Emotion in Melody
- What is harmony, and how does it differ from melody?
Harmony is the process of adding emotion to a melody through the use of chords. It is essentially what happens when we combine notes. On the other hand, melody is the tune that we sing or hum, which can stand on its own or can be accompanied by harmonies. - How does harmony contribute to a song or piece’s emotional depth?
Harmony is the foundation of the emotional landscape around which melodies are built. Imagine hearing a song without any harmony, it would sound empty or flat. Simply put, harmony is what brings the various emotions and feelings to a song, making it a full experience.
Exploring Triads, Major and Minor Chords, and the Circle of Fifths
- Can you explain the concept of triads and how they are used in harmony?
Triads are chords made up of three notes, each separated by a third, creating a chord with a specific root note, a third, and a fifth. Triads are used to create major and minor chords which are the foundational elements in Western music. The major and minor chords are used to establish the musical key and setting up the scene for musical storytelling. - What is the circle of fifths and how does it help in creating harmonic relationships between different chords?
The circle of fifths is a musical theory tool that explains the relationship between different major and minor keys. It is an organized way of mapping the relationship between notes that are five notes apart, creating a key signature on a clockwise movement of the circle. This allows musicians to transit between chords that have a harmonic relationship, making the musical journey more fluid.
The Influence of Overtone and Undertone Series in Harmony
- Can you explain the overtone and undertone series and how they influence harmony in natural sound?
Overtone series is a harmonic series of frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency. By playing a stringed musical instrument or blowing into a wind instrument, we are activating the overtone series. On the other hand, the undertone series is a series of frequencies that are integer divisions of a fundamental frequency. Both series, when used in harmony, create a rich and complex sound which our brains find satisfying and pleasurable.
Creating Harmonies: Compatibility of Notes, Bass Notes, and Inversion
- How do different notes complement or clash with each other when forming harmonies?
When selecting different notes or chords, it is important to consider their compatibility, whether they complement or clash with each other. Certain notes and chords create different moods and emotions, so choosing the right ones in a particular situation can make all the difference. - How can bass notes influence or change the mood of harmonies?
Bass notes, also known as root notes, are the foundation of harmonies, and their selection can influence the general mood and feel of a piece of music. The root note creates a foundation on which more complex chords can be built, so it is crucial to choose the right one to create the desired emotional depth of a song. - What is inversion, and how can it be used in creating harmonies?
Inversion is a technique that rearranges the notes in a chord to produce a different and often richer harmony. It involves moving the bass note of a chord to a higher note in the chord, creating a different quality to the chord. This technique helps in creating musical interest and variety, making a song more dynamic and engaging.
Negative Harmony and Emotional Polarity
- What is negative harmony, and how can it be used in creating emotional polarity in music?
Negative harmony is a technique that involves reflecting a melody or chord progression around its tonic center, creating a reverse and often more emotionally extreme version of the circular chord progression. This technique can create polarity between musical elements, turning something that is happy into something melancholic, or vice versa, thus adding a new layer of depth to the emotions conveyed in music.
The Importance of Conveying Emotions in Music
- Why is it important to convey emotions in music, and how does harmony help in this process?
Music is a powerful medium for communicating emotions and feelings that transcend all barriers of language and culture. Harmony helps in conveying emotions by adding a depth of feeling to the music beyond what can be achieved through melody alone. Therefore, it is crucial to be mindful and intentional in the selection of harmonies to best convey the precise emotions to the intended audience.
Breaking Out of a Creative Rut: A Personal Experience
- Can you share your personal experience of breaking out of a creative rut?
I once found myself stuck in a creative rut, feeling that everything I created sounded the same. I turned to Miles Davis to help me break out of the monotony. We experimented with different notes, opened up the harmonies, and tried to take an unconventional approach, resulting in a fresh sound that reignited my passion for music.
Conclusion
Harmony is a critical element in music that can add an emotional depth and richness to a song, creating a unique landscape of sound that tells a story. Understanding the basics of harmony can make the listening experience more satisfying, but to truly appreciate its intricacies, one must dive deeper into the complexities of chords, harmony relationships, natural sound series, bass notes, inversion, and negative harmony. At the core of it all, is the role of harmony, to inject emotion into music and create powerful and timeless masterpieces.
