NSMA · Ovation Performer · Music theory
Ovation music theory
Understand harmony, chord construction, seventh chords, progressions, and four-part writing.
Triads and seventh chords
- Major triad: major third plus minor third
- Minor triad: minor third plus major third
- Diminished triad: two minor thirds
- Augmented triad: two major thirds
- A seventh chord adds another third above a triad.
Harmony and progression
Roman numerals identify chords by scale degree. Chord progressions create motion through preparation, tension, and resolution, often moving toward the dominant and tonic.
- I is tonic stability.
- IV is subdominant or predominant motion.
- V creates dominant tension that resolves to I.
- Four-part harmony normally distributes chord tones among soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.