Lesson 26

Learning to Harmonize

Most harmonized lines whether played or sung by a vocalist, are built on notes known as chord tones. Chord tones are the root, 3^rd, 5^th and the 7^th of any given scale. In the illustrations to follow, we will learn how to harmonize in thirds in the A major  scale. We will stay within the diatonic structure of this scale and cover up to 3 octaves. Recall that diatonic means to stay within the scale, or use just the notes of a particular scale.

The illustration below outlines the notes of the A major scale. The red line shows where the 2^nd octave begins and the first ends. From the (Root A to the next A 7^th fret would be the 1^st octave. Look below and notice the first A note and second A note, this is the first octave. By playing the 2^nd A note to the third A note would be within the 2^nd Octave, etc….

Look at the illustration once again, this time notice the notes that make up the A major scale. The notes are from the (Root A), B, C#, D, E, F#, G#. The diatonic major scale has 7 notes, with the 8^th note the same as the 1^st and repeating in sequence one octave higher. Each note following the root goes higher than the next. The root note is the lowest note in the key. For Example, the A note is the root note for the key of A major. The lowest C would be the root note in the key of C major.

The two illustrations below will illustrate the key of A major covering two octaves. The bottom illustration is the same major key, but is shown in tablature.

Under each of the notes above are the abbreviations for each of the intervals of the major scale. We will not go into depth in this lesson, but a brief explanation will do for now. We will cover each of the intervals down the road. What we’re concerned with in this lesson is the (Major 3^rd and the Minor 3^rd). The Major 3^rd is abbreviated above as ma3. In the key of A major the C# would be the major 3^rd. Look above and notice the ma3 under the C# note.

The major 3^rd is always the third note in any major key. The major 3^rd is always the 3^rd note in a Major Triad. Recall that a Triad is a chord, which uses 3 notes.

The major 3^rd note is (2 whole steps) or (4 half steps) away from the root or 1^st note. Count the notes from the A below to the C#. You would use all the notes including the sharps. (From the A note you would have, A#, B, C and the C#) This is where the four-half steps come from. Recall that a half step equals one fret and a Whole step = 2 frets. So, four half steps = 2 whole steps. The Major 3^rd note is 2 whole steps away from the root.

The minor 3^rd would be 3 half steps or 1 and ½ whole steps. We know that in the key of A major the A chord is the A major chord. The B chord in the key of A major is the B minor chord. Notice that the D note is only 3 half steps from the B. This would be a minor 3^rd.

The chords in the key of A major are, A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m, G# diminished. Look at the illustration below and find the D note. The distance from the D to the F# would be 2 whole steps, so the F# is a ma 3^rd to the D. The notes in the D chord are D, F# and A.

If you had a D minor chord, the notes would be D F and A. Notice that the F is a minor 3^rd now.

At the present time we are only concerned with the major and the minor 3^rd. Even the G# diminished chord above has a minor 3^rd. The notes of the G# diminished chord are, G#, B and D. By knowing this, it is possible to harmonize with any chord using the 3^rd interval. The 3^rd interval will be either major or minor. The major 3^rd is 2 whole steps from the root and the minor 3^rd interval is 1 and ½ steps from the root.

Look at the key of C major. The notes and chords of this key are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B diminished. The notes of the C chord are C E G. These notes are the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th notes of the scale. The 3^rd of C major is the E note. This would be a major 3^rd since it is 2 whole steps from the C note.

Now lets look at the C minor chord. The Cm chord has the notes C Eb and G. Notice that the E has been lowered by ½ step. This would now be a minor 3^rd. The space between the C and Eb is now only 1 and ½ steps. So by lowering the 3^rd note of the major chord would make a minor chord.

With all this say, it’s time to learn how to harmonize over any chord in the diatonic major scale. We will continue to use the key of A major. Look at the illustration below

The illustration above shows the notes in the key of A major. It also shows the notes that make up the A chord. The A chord uses the (1^st root, 3^rd and 5^th notes in the A major scale. Recall that a triad is a chord that uses three notes. A chord is when you strum 3 or more notes simultaneously. When you harmonize you actually use the notes of each chord or what are called chord forms. Chord forms are the 1^st 3^rd 5^th and 7^th notes of the scale. The illustration above only shows the 1^st 3^rd and 5^th chord tones of the A major triad. The chord form would be every other note from the root note. The notes of this triad are the A C# and E notes. If you wanted to harmonize in thirds over the A chord or A note, you would play the major 3^rd note or the C#.

Look at the illustration below, it illustrates the A major scale with primary line and the harmony lines shown.

Harmonizing can be done with two guitars or played with 1 guitar. Listen to the scorpions rock you like a Hurricane. The intro uses this technique. Harmonizing is not only important when playing the guitar, but for vocals, keyboards and other instruments. You can harmonize on other degrees of the scale too. You can harmonize on the 5^th, and 7^th too.

Look at the illustration below. It shows the notes of the A major 7 chord. The A major 7 chord is built on the 1^st 3^rd 5^th and 7^th notes of the scale.

The notes of the A major 7 chord are the A C# E and G#. You could play two guitars one playing the A note, one playing the C# note and then you could sing the E note or G# note. This is how harmonizing works. You play the notes of the chord.

The notes of the Bm chord are B D F#. All the chords can be figured out by taking every other note from the chord you would like to use. Look at the notes of the Bm chord and C#m chord. Once again the notes of the Bm chord are B D and F#. The notes of the C#m chord are C# E and G#. Put these notes down on paper.

F#         G#

D           E

B           C#

Notice the three notes F# D and B, these are the Bm notes. Then we have the G# E and C#, the notes of the Cm chord. This just shows the 1^st 3^rd and 5^th notes of each chord. Of course the 3^rd is a minor 3^rd for these two chords. A minor 3^rd is a flat 3^rd. So for minor chords it would be 1,b3,5.

You would use the D note to harmonize over the B note and the F# note to harmonize over the D note. You could also use the F# to harmonize over the B note, this would be using the 5 over the 1, or harmonizing in 5ths.

Look at the illustration below.

Once again this illustrates the Amaj7 chord. The notes of the Amaj7 chord are A C# E and G#. Write these out on paper as shown below.

G#
E
C#
A

You would use the C# to harmonize over the A note. Use the E note over the C# note, G# over the E note. Or you could play all 4 using four different guitar parts. Or sing one note play one note; keyboard one note and so on.

The illustration below only shows the key of A major which starts with the 5 and is the primary A major scale. Under this scale is the harmonizing scale, which starts with the 4. Try to lay down the primary scale on tape and play the harmonizing scale over the primary scale. Convert each of these scales to other keys and do the same thing. Also use the blank tablature forms to figure out this scale starting at different fret locations.

Good Luck,

Guitar Secrets