7824 / 18210 · Workshop 61 — Melodic Minor as a Practical Color System: Altered Dominants, Lydian Dominant, Minor-Major Harmony, Locrian ♮2, and Choosing Tension by Destination← prev⊞ allnext →
61.83Apply it to “Happy Birthday”
Use C minor for an absurdly sophisticated version.
Phrase 1: Cm6/9.
Phrase 2: Dorian color.
Phrase 3: brief Cm(maj9), introducing B natural as heightened tension.
Phrase 4:
Dm7♭5 → G7alt → Cm6/9.
Do not make every chord altered.
One strong altered cadence is enough.