Reharmonization
Encyclopedia
In music, reharmonization refers to the technique of taking an existing melodic line
and altering the harmony
which accompanies it. Typically, a melody is reharmonized to provide musical interest or variety. As well, reharmonization is often used to introduce a new section in the music, such as a coda
or bridge
.
Typically however, reharmonizations involve not just a single melody note, but a melodic line. As a result, there are often several melodic tones which might occur over a harmony, and all of these must be considered when reharmonizing.
For example, if a melody composed of E♭ - F and G was originally harmonized with E♭maj7, choosing D7 as the reharmonization chord might not be the best choice, since each melodic tone would create semitone or minor 9th dissonance with chord members of the supporting harmony. Experienced arrangers might decide to use these kinds of highly dissonant chords when reharmonizing, however handling this dissonance requires a good ear and a deep understanding of harmony.
and alter the changes to make the tune sound more contemporary or progressive. Art Tatum
was a pioneer of reharmonization, and later on John Coltrane
, Miles Davis
and Bill Evans
were among the first to seriously explore its possibilities, and since then the technique has become an essential tool for the jazz musician and jazz arranger.
. In tritone substitution, a dominant chord is replaced by the dominant chord a tritone
away. This technique is based on the fact that the third and seventh degrees of a dominant chord are enharmonically the same as the seventh and third degrees of the dominant chord a tritone away. For example, B and F, the third and seventh of a G7 chord, are enharmonic
equivalents of C♭ and F, the seventh and third of a Db7 chord.
Tritone substitution works very well on standards
, because the chord progressions typically utilize the II - V - I progression and the circle of fifths
. For example, a jazz standard using a chord progression of Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 could easily be reharmonized to Dm7 - D♭7 - Cmaj7, (G7 is replaced with the dominant 7th chord a tritone away, D♭7). The new progression has a more contemporary sound, with chromatic bass motion and smooth voice leading
in the upper parts.
Tritone substitution is also possible with major seventh chord
s, for example Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 could become Dm7 - D♭maj7 - Cmaj7. Thad Jones
sometimes uses this type of substitution in his big band
writing.
As opposed to the classical approach to tonal harmony, in jazz there are only three functions: tonic
, subdominant
and dominant
. Therefore, chords can also be substituted for congruent functions: for example, the second degree can be substituted for the fourth degree, the tonic can be substituted for the sixth/third degree and so on. The fourth degree in major may be substituted for a seventh chord to create a "bluesy" sound. In a progression going up a fourth, if the first chord is a minor seventh chord, it can also be substituted for a seventh chord; a relative second degree can also be added before it to create a ii-V-I turnaround. (A sole minor seventh or seventh chord can be perceived as a second degree or its dominant quality substitution, in which case a fifth may follow.) In the same progression, chord qualities are sometimes flexible: the IImaj7 chord mentioned in the previous paragraph may get a preceding VImaj7 chord instead of the relative II or its tritone substitution.
Combining the above techniques, the following progression:
C | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 | C ||
can turn into
E7 A7 | Bm7 E7 | D7 F7 | Amaj7 Dmaj7 | C ||
apart, maintaining the shape and voicing of the chord, at times resolving to the original chord. For example, F7 (F - A - C - E♭) could slide up to become G♭7 (G♭ - B♭ - D♭ - F♭), thus "planing" each note up a semitone. The planed chords can be further embellished: for example, if a D major is planed down a semitone, a minor seventh can be added to the resulting chord, C; as a dominant chord assumed to be the fifth degree of the momentarily tonicized
F major, it can have a second degree added to it, thus creating an incomplete ii-V-I turnaround which may or may not resolve to the original chord: Gm7 C7 | (D)
Planing is often used by jazz arrangers to reharmonize melodic passing tones which, if voiced as a vertical sonority
, might clash with the prevailing harmony in the progression. As well, a number of improvisers have used planing effectively, typically as part of a progression. Herbie Hancock
uses improvised planing on his tune "Chameleon", on his 1973 Headhunters record; McCoy Tyner
uses it extensively (specifically, pentatonic scale
s located a tritone apart) in his recordings with John Coltrane
, most notably "A Love Supreme
", as well as in his own albums of the same period.
and Nicolas Slonimsky
, the idea of multiple tonic
s derived from equal division of the octave
appealed to John Coltrane
, who proceeded to compose the groundbreaking tune "Giant Steps
". The composition features a series of dominant chords and ii-V-I turnarounds resolving to three tonalities
built on the B augmented triad
(the three-tonic system):
This concept was very innovative for the jazz world, to the point that Tommy Flanagan
was unable to properly improvise on the original "Giant Steps
" recording. Developing this technique further, Coltrane started utilizing the three-tonic system (and later, the four-tonic system as well, which is based on tonics derived from a diminished seventh chord
) as a reharmonization tool, which has ultimately become known as "Coltrane changes
". In this example from "Countdown" (which is really a "Coltrane changes" version of "Tune Up", the well-known jazz standard
composed by Miles Davis
), the long ii-V-I in the key of D major is laced with V-I progressions that resolve to the three tonics of the D augmented triad:
This kind of reharmonization mostly requires alteration of the original melody because of the frequent modulation
s and therefore, becomes "reharmonization of the changes
" rather than the classic concept of re-harmonizing the melody.
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
and altering the harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
which accompanies it. Typically, a melody is reharmonized to provide musical interest or variety. As well, reharmonization is often used to introduce a new section in the music, such as a coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
or bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
.
Reharmonizing a melody
A melodic tone can often be harmonized in a variety of different ways. For example, an E might be harmonized with an E major chord (E - G♯ - B). In this case, the melodic tone is acting as the root of the chord. That same E might be harmonized with a C major chord (C - E - G), making it the third of the chord. This concept extends to ninths (E would act as the 9th if harmonized with a Dm7 chord - D - F - A - C - E), ♯fifths (E would act as ♯5 on an A♭ augmented chord - A♭ - C - E), and a wide array of other options.Typically however, reharmonizations involve not just a single melody note, but a melodic line. As a result, there are often several melodic tones which might occur over a harmony, and all of these must be considered when reharmonizing.
For example, if a melody composed of E♭ - F and G was originally harmonized with E♭maj7, choosing D7 as the reharmonization chord might not be the best choice, since each melodic tone would create semitone or minor 9th dissonance with chord members of the supporting harmony. Experienced arrangers might decide to use these kinds of highly dissonant chords when reharmonizing, however handling this dissonance requires a good ear and a deep understanding of harmony.
Jazz reharmonization
In jazz, the term is typically used to refer to the process of reharmonizing some or all of a tune, whereby an existing melody is refitted with a new chord progression. Jazz musicians often take the melody from a well-known standardJazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
and alter the changes to make the tune sound more contemporary or progressive. Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
was a pioneer of reharmonization, and later on John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
and Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
were among the first to seriously explore its possibilities, and since then the technique has become an essential tool for the jazz musician and jazz arranger.
Chord substitution
One of the most common techniques in jazz reharmonization is the use of substitute chords, through a technique known as tritone substitutionTritone substitution
In classical music, a substitute dominant is "a chord sufficiently akin to the dominant to be reasonably set against the tonic, and yet remote enough to give a chromatically expressive, large-scale dissonance to the structure"...
. In tritone substitution, a dominant chord is replaced by the dominant chord a tritone
Tritone
In classical music from Western culture, the tritone |tone]]) is traditionally defined as a musical interval composed of three whole tones. In a chromatic scale, each whole tone can be further divided into two semitones...
away. This technique is based on the fact that the third and seventh degrees of a dominant chord are enharmonically the same as the seventh and third degrees of the dominant chord a tritone away. For example, B and F, the third and seventh of a G7 chord, are enharmonic
Enharmonic
In modern musical notation and tuning, an enharmonic equivalent is a note , interval , or key signature which is equivalent to some other note, interval, or key signature, but "spelled", or named, differently...
equivalents of C♭ and F, the seventh and third of a Db7 chord.
Tritone substitution works very well on standards
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
, because the chord progressions typically utilize the II - V - I progression and the circle of fifths
Circle of fifths
In music theory, the circle of fifths shows the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys...
. For example, a jazz standard using a chord progression of Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 could easily be reharmonized to Dm7 - D♭7 - Cmaj7, (G7 is replaced with the dominant 7th chord a tritone away, D♭7). The new progression has a more contemporary sound, with chromatic bass motion and smooth voice leading
Voice leading
In musical composition, voice leading is the term used to refer to a decision-making consideration when arranging voices , namely, how each voice should move in advancing from each chord to the next.- Details :...
in the upper parts.
Tritone substitution is also possible with major seventh chord
Major seventh chord
In music, a major seventh chord is any nondominant seventh chord where the "third" note is a major third above the root.Most typically, major seventh chord refers to where the "seventh" note is a major seventh above the root . This is more precisely known as the major/major seventh chord, and it...
s, for example Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 could become Dm7 - D♭maj7 - Cmaj7. Thad Jones
Thad Jones
Thaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen...
sometimes uses this type of substitution in his big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
writing.
As opposed to the classical approach to tonal harmony, in jazz there are only three functions: tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
, subdominant
Subdominant
In music, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. It is so called because it is the same distance "below" the tonic as the dominant is above the tonic - in other words, the tonic is the dominant of the subdominant. It is also the note immediately...
and dominant
Dominant (music)
In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
. Therefore, chords can also be substituted for congruent functions: for example, the second degree can be substituted for the fourth degree, the tonic can be substituted for the sixth/third degree and so on. The fourth degree in major may be substituted for a seventh chord to create a "bluesy" sound. In a progression going up a fourth, if the first chord is a minor seventh chord, it can also be substituted for a seventh chord; a relative second degree can also be added before it to create a ii-V-I turnaround. (A sole minor seventh or seventh chord can be perceived as a second degree or its dominant quality substitution, in which case a fifth may follow.) In the same progression, chord qualities are sometimes flexible: the IImaj7 chord mentioned in the previous paragraph may get a preceding VImaj7 chord instead of the relative II or its tritone substitution.
Combining the above techniques, the following progression:
C | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 | C ||
can turn into
E7 A7 | Bm7 E7 | D7 F7 | Amaj7 Dmaj7 | C ||
Planing
Planing is a reharmonization technique used by both improvisers and arrangers. It refers to the technique of sliding a chord (or chord tone) up or down, either chromatically or a tritoneTritone
In classical music from Western culture, the tritone |tone]]) is traditionally defined as a musical interval composed of three whole tones. In a chromatic scale, each whole tone can be further divided into two semitones...
apart, maintaining the shape and voicing of the chord, at times resolving to the original chord. For example, F7 (F - A - C - E♭) could slide up to become G♭7 (G♭ - B♭ - D♭ - F♭), thus "planing" each note up a semitone. The planed chords can be further embellished: for example, if a D major is planed down a semitone, a minor seventh can be added to the resulting chord, C; as a dominant chord assumed to be the fifth degree of the momentarily tonicized
Tonicization
In music, tonicization is the treatment of a pitch other than the overall tonic as a temporary tonic in a composition. Tonicization is achieved through the use of the scale and harmonies of the tonicized key. The most common method of tonicization uses leading tones, dominant-tonic chord...
F major, it can have a second degree added to it, thus creating an incomplete ii-V-I turnaround which may or may not resolve to the original chord: Gm7 C7 | (D)
Planing is often used by jazz arrangers to reharmonize melodic passing tones which, if voiced as a vertical sonority
Sonority
Sonority may refer to:*sound*sonority hierarchy, a ranking of speech sounds by amplitude*In music theory, a chord, particularly when speaking of non-traditional harmonies...
, might clash with the prevailing harmony in the progression. As well, a number of improvisers have used planing effectively, typically as part of a progression. Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
uses improvised planing on his tune "Chameleon", on his 1973 Headhunters record; McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
uses it extensively (specifically, pentatonic scale
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
s located a tritone apart) in his recordings with John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, most notably "A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
", as well as in his own albums of the same period.
Multi-tonic systems
A concept introduced by Joseph SchillingerJoseph Schillinger
Joseph Schillinger was a composer, music theorist, and composition teacher. He was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine and died in New York City.-Life and career:...
and Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky was a Russian born American composer, conductor, musician, music critic, lexicographer and author. He described himself as a "diaskeuast" ; "a reviser or interpolator."- Life :...
, the idea of multiple tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
s derived from equal division of the octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
appealed to John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, who proceeded to compose the groundbreaking tune "Giant Steps
Giant Steps (composition)
"Giant Steps" is a jazz composition by John Coltrane, first appearing as the first track on the album of the same name . The composition contains a rapid and improvised progression of chord changes through three keys shifted by major thirds, creating an augmented triad.-Title:The song title comes...
". The composition features a series of dominant chords and ii-V-I turnarounds resolving to three tonalities
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
built on the B augmented triad
Augmented triad
In music, an augmented triad is a triad, or chord, consisting of two major thirds . The term augmented triad arises from an augmented triad being a three note chord, or triad, whose top note is raised, or augmented...
(the three-tonic system):
- B D7 | G B7 | E | Am7 D7 |
- G B7 | E F7 | B | Fm7 B7|
- E | Am7 D7 | G | Cm7 F7 |
- B | Fm7 B7 | E | Cm7 F7 || (B)
This concept was very innovative for the jazz world, to the point that Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan
Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
was unable to properly improvise on the original "Giant Steps
Giant Steps
-Personnel:* John Coltrane — tenor saxophone* Tommy Flanagan — piano* Wynton Kelly — piano on "Naima"* Paul Chambers — bass* Art Taylor — drums* Jimmy Cobb — drums on "Naima"* Cedar Walton — piano on "Giant Steps' and Naima" alternate versions...
" recording. Developing this technique further, Coltrane started utilizing the three-tonic system (and later, the four-tonic system as well, which is based on tonics derived from a diminished seventh chord
Diminished seventh chord
A diminished seventh chord is a four note chord that comprises a diminished triad plus the interval of a diminished seventh above the root. Thus it is , or enharmonically , of any major scale; for example, C diminished-seventh would be , or enharmonically...
) as a reharmonization tool, which has ultimately become known as "Coltrane changes
Coltrane changes
In jazz harmony, the Coltrane changes are a harmonic progression variation using substitute chords over common jazz chord progressions...
". In this example from "Countdown" (which is really a "Coltrane changes" version of "Tune Up", the well-known jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
composed by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
), the long ii-V-I in the key of D major is laced with V-I progressions that resolve to the three tonics of the D augmented triad:
- original (Tune Up): Em7 | A7 | D | D |
- reharmonized (Countdown): Em7 F7 | B D7 | G A7 | D |
This kind of reharmonization mostly requires alteration of the original melody because of the frequent modulation
Modulation (music)
In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest...
s and therefore, becomes "reharmonization of the changes
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
" rather than the classic concept of re-harmonizing the melody.