Harmonic Functions

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What are Harmonic Functions?Harmonic functions explain the relationship between chords of a given scale. They are important in the development of concepts like tonality and key.

We have three basic harmonic functions: tonic, dominant and subdominant:

These functions are related to the I (tonic), IV (subdominant) and V (dominant) degrees in both minor and major scales.

Tonic

The tonic chord is built over the first degree of the scale. The tonic is the tonal center, the resting point.

Listen carefully to the tonic chords. Since in this example the C major chord is the tonal center, we say that we are in the key of C major:

The Dominant andSubdominant

The dominant and subdominant chords help define the tonic chord. The dominant chord is one 5th above the tonic and the subdominant chord is one 5th below:

These two chords create an harmonic tension that resolves into the tonic chord.

G Major and it begins with the dominant chord

Key: G MajorTonic (I): G majorDominant (V): D major or D dominant seventhSubdominant: C major

Functional HarmonyAll chords within a scale have and create a certain “feel” & tendencies within a chord progression or song.

Specific chords fulfill a very specific “function” within a chord progression, composition, or song.

Chords within a chord progression feel like they don’t want to go anywhere, they feel resolved; while other chords feel like they are “on their way” to another chord they need to resolve to.

The best ways to fully understand this on a deeper level is by constructing chords of 4th intervals, called “quartal harmony”, & playing chord progressions with quartal harmony chords within a specified scale.

The Mathematical Organization

A harmonic that is 1 octave higher than the open, un-fingered note lies at one half the length of the string. The harmonics fall at many different specific areas along the string, called “nodes.” –

The series is “built in” to the sound of the fundamental note you can detect with ears.

When the entire scale length of the string is under vibrating phenomenon, all the harmonic series is contained in that vibration, to varying degrees.

The varying degrees to which the individual notes of the harmonic series are highlighted help in determining the “timbre” of the instrument.

The timbre, quality of sound differentiates the sound of an instrument from that of a different instrument.

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