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Author Topic: How to harmonize a note in a song  (Read 1390 times)

Offline dwest2419

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How to harmonize a note in a song
« on: February 23, 2013, 01:16:18 PM »
Hello there guys back with another thread. I understand I am beginner, but I have been having minor problems when picking up songs by ear. It seems to me that my ear is not that well developed yet. For instance, when I play songs I try to listen and then play the melody notes that are being harmonizied and then I determine what chord it is but the melody note stays on top in the chord I play. Now, I dont harmonize every single note that is sung in the song perhaps a few and that is about it. But some times I listen to piano player playing different chords onhow to harmonize a note in the song and this comes to my mind that I cant voice chords the way a piano player voices his or her chords. But the one thing I do is play the melody note on top when forming some type of chord.

For example, lets just say that the song was in the key of C. And the person who is singing sangs starts singing a C note and then a D note and then ens on a G note. And on that G note the song has that G note where it is sustain for long period of time. Me as a guitar player on how to harmonize that G note, my choices could be a Eminor (E G B) where G is on top and Em7 (E G B D) where the G note is on top and G major (G B D) where G on top or a G sus4 (G A D) where the G note is on top or a C maj9 (C E G B D) where G is on top or a C major (C E G) where G is on top or C major7 (C E G B) where G is on top or a a Dm11 (D F A C E G) where G is on top. That is about all I can think of on how to harmonize that G note. But my point is am I doing something wrong here when it comes to songs and how they are written?

Offline T-Block

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Re: How to harmonize a note in a song
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2013, 09:23:27 AM »
This is a good strategy, just don't forget to include the bass note while you're harmonizing. The bass note anchors the chord and gives you a fully harmonized sound. Also, not every melody note will be played on top. Sometimes the melody is in the middle, and sometimes its on the bottom.
Real musicians play in every key!!!
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Offline gtrdave

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Re: How to harmonize a note in a song
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2013, 09:32:46 AM »
This is a good strategy, just don't forget to include the bass note while you're harmonizing. The bass note anchors the chord and gives you a fully harmonized sound. Also, not every melody note will be played on top. Sometimes the melody is in the middle, and sometimes its on the bottom.

And sometimes there are several melodies at one time = J.S. Bach.
Music theory is not always music reality.

Offline T-Block

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Re: How to harmonize a note in a song
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2013, 09:33:28 AM »
And sometimes there are several melodies at one time = J.S. Bach.

True true (hate those, but love em at the same time, lol).
Real musicians play in every key!!!
Music Theory, da numbers work!
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