BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
13370 / 18210 · Workshop 105 — Composing the Harmonic World Under an Original Melody: Making Chords Feel Inevitable Instead of Merely Interesting← prev⊞ allnext →

105.1First principle

Do not begin with:

“Which chord can contain this melody note?”

That question produces too many possibilities.

Begin with:

“What is this phrase doing?”

Is it:

  • establishing
  • leaving
  • preparing
  • intensifying
  • suspending
  • arriving?

Function first.