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About Phil Kelly
Expertise
I`m a semi-retired professional music arranger with over thirty five years in all phases of the commercial music production business. I can try to answer questions regarding music arranging, theory, orchestration , and/or composition for most acoustic ensembles .( jazz band or orchestral ) I can try to offer suggestions about studio music recording procedures and some basic MIDI applications , too. In the course of my career I`ve worked with such artists as Doc Severinsen and the old Tonight Show Band, Bill Watrous, Buddy Greco, John Gary, Mel Torme, Julius LaRosa, as well as the Pop programs of the Fort Worth, Dallas, North Carolina, and Houston Symphonies, as well as library music material for ABC, ESPN, and NFL Films.
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You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Musicians' Exchange > Musical Composition, Theory, Songwriting, and Singing > Writing Harmonies for Chords
Expert: Phil Kelly - 10/26/2009
Question
My question is very basic I am trying to get a better understanding on harmonies for chords. For example, if my guitarist is playing a D minor, then C major, and G major and I wanted to play chords that harmonize to give the song a darker feel. Would I use harmonic minors? Is there someplace I can a cheat sheet that would help me with harmonies. By the way I play keyboard. I am just learning theory so please pardon me if my question sounds silly.
Answer
Hi George:
You're already on the right track if you are studying theory, but you obviously haven't got as
far as chordal EXTENSIONS yet. This merely refers to the process of adding additional color tones
to the basic triads.For example, if you add the C above the A of a d minor chord, that is the SEVENTH.
Thus, if you continue and add an E above that , you've added the NINTH.
This will work for any chordal structure - major, minor, augmented or diminished -but there are
ssome rules involved you must learn that are too elaborate to go into here. Suffice to say that eventually your studies of theory will solve these questions.
I recommend the book " Jazz Theory" by Mark Levine as a good guide to modern harmony.
Good Luck!
Phil Kelly
www.philkellymusic.com
NW Prevailing Winds
SW Santa Ana Winds
Origin Records
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