Chapter Summary 

 
The goal is to move away from solely memorizing chords to analyzing harmony, we want to 
transition our focus to how the harmony is functioning. Remember, the goal is to attain 
harmonic freedom. When you’re able to see the harmony as more than just a chord - that’s 
the first step to attaining that freedom. So first, you want to identify what the group of 
notes are within the harmony, essentially the notes that make up the harmony or chord. 
Then you want to figure out what the surrounding chords are, the chords that come 
directly before and after the harmony - because that will determine how the harmony is 
functioning (being used). So spend some time with the different examples that we’ve gone 
over and when you feel comfortable with everything, move on to the next chapter.  
 
 
 
 

Study Guide 
 
1. Practice the different functions of this harmony : G Db F Bb (ie; G-7b5 to C7 etc.) 
 
2. Create your own 4 bar progression using each one of the above functions. Be sure to 
apply inversions and drop 2 voicings to each progression.  
 
3. Choose a song that you’re familiar with and find different places in the song where 
the harmonic functions in step 1 can be applied. 
 
4. Once you’ve discovered the different patterns and have completed step 3, create a 
countermelody that connects the chords. It’s important to be aware of what the 
original melody of the song is so you’re countermelody doesn’t clash with it. Be sure 
to create your countermelody with the chord tones from one of the chords in step 1. 
 
5. Using the same song from step 3, use the “alternating functions” concept in your 
progression and create a new melody for each new alteration.