Mike's Master Classes

Harmony Masterclass

How to Harmonically Analyze a Tune

David Cohen·
0.0 (0 reviews)·BEGINNER·1 lesson·1m 8s of video

About this masterclass

David Cohen brings you up to speed on chord progressions in this incredibly detailed 70-minute lesson, starting from the harmony principles taught in an introductory music theory class — roman numeral analysis, chord construction — and working up to more advanced jazz scale choices and substitutions. If you ever get confused about which scale belongs to which type of chord, this is the lesson to see.

Dave's step-by-step analysis process

  • Assigning each chord a roman numeral based on its place in the home key (and any related key)
  • Noting possible extensions and substitutions: tritone substitution, direct substitution, parallel substitution, chromatic fill-in, and modal borrowing/interchange
  • Classifying every chord by its broader function: Tonic, Predominant, or Dominant
  • Choosing the scales that sound best for improvisation, with Dave's preferred scale and chord fingerings based on "mode zones" and advice on how to practice them
  • Reharmonization concepts applied to a selection of the tunes

Dave demonstrates everything with seven standard jazz tunes — the modal tunes So What, All Blues, and Footprints, and the standards Autumn Leaves, All The Things You Are, Blue Bossa, and Honeysuckle Rose — with references to what the jazz greats would do whenever possible.

Preparation needed: an understanding of intervals, major and minor scales, and basic jazz chord construction — there will be lots of talk about roots, thirds, fifths, and sevenths. Includes 26 pages of material in TAB and standard notation.

Lessons in this masterclass

Lessons

  • 1How to Harmonically Analyze a Tune1m 8s

Reviews & Ratings

0.0
0 reviews
5
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this course!

Related Courses

About the instructor

David Cohen →
Baltimore-based Composer/Guitarist/Drummer/Educator David E. Cohen is featured in a number of groups including No Signal, a modern classical and jazz ensemble, the Banana Channel which performs his progressive rock, jazz-fusion, and classic rock pieces, the No Land Band in which he is the lead guitarist and a contributing songwriter. Mr. Cohen has composed a number of jazz and classical works, including pieces for big band, four-guitar ensemble, chorus with electric guitar, solo double bass, full orchestra, chamber orchestra and soprano, brass quintet, solo percussion, amongst many others. His musical influences are diverse, including John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Jean-Luc Ponty, Return to Forever, Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tony Williams, Charlie Christian, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, George Benson, Jimmy Smith, The Brecker Brothers, Larry Coryell, Bartok, Stravinsky, Debussy, Messaien, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Steve Reich, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Kansas, Rush, Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Mastodon, and others. As an educator, Dave offers a unique view in his teaching methods. Trained at the world-class Peabody Conservatory by Paul Bollenback, Tim Murphy, Chris Theofanidies, Kevin Puts, Nicholas Maw, Shafer Mahoney, Paul Mathews, and Libby Larsen, he has many timeless compositional and jazz ideas to share. His instruction style is a fully comprehendible, step-by-step approach which emphasizes the understanding of music theory through an incredibly thorough system of guitar fingerings and visualization methods. Dave has many years of teaching experience and shares them week after week with his 25-student studio. David will present basic classes for the entry-level jazz guitarist.