And each of these functions tend to participate in certain kinds of chord progressions more than others. Each of these functions has their own characteristic scale degrees, with their own characteristic tendencies. These categories are traditionally called tonic ( T), subdominant ( S - also called predominant, P or PD), and dominant ( D). In common-practice music, harmonies tend to cluster around three high-level categories of harmonic function. The three common-practice harmonic functions As we explore specific genres, composers, and works within that common practice, we will have opportunity to explore the more nuanced differences between composers, as well as to move beyond common-practice Western art music to include other styles, such as pop/rock. Our initial exploration of harmonic functions will engage the general “common practice” that is shared by most eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Western composers. And though there are some general harmonic traits that are common to most eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Western composers (what we call the “common practice”), when we look in closer detail, we find some significant differences in the way Bach, Mozart, Brahms, and others compose their harmonic progressions. For instance, the kinds of functions we find in classical music are different from those we find in pop/rock songs from the Billboard charts. (Note the absence of root and quality from consideration here.)īecause tendency is style-specific, the same chord can have different functions in different musical styles. The collective tendencies of a chord’s scale degrees in combination is the chord’s function.Each scale degree has its own tendencies.Chords are collections of scale degrees.Generally speaking, the function of a chord concerns the notes that belong to it (its internal characteristics), the chords that tend to precede and follow it, and where it tends to be employed in the course of a musical phrase.Ī theory of harmonic functions is based on three fundamental principles:
![harmonic progression harmonic progression](https://ph-static.z-dn.net/files/d91/cc19b92ec647a104a0d063591894bc6a.jpg)
![harmonic progression harmonic progression](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y685Lilp4yg/maxresdefault.jpg)
These tendencies work together to create meaningful harmonic progressions, which can in turn form the harmonic foundation for musical phrases, themes, and larger formal units. Each chord tends to occur in some musical situations more than others, to progress to some chords more than others. If a musical function describes the role that a particular musical element plays in the creation of a larger musical unit, then a harmonic function describes the role that a particular chord plays in the creating of a larger harmonic progression.