Learn the classic blockbuster sound of chords with more than one tonic. Understand how these dissonant but tonally-based harmonies are used in action scenes for several purposes: scoring long passages over a single chord, emphasizing key moments in the narrative, and expressing common associations. Also learn how a large number of action chords are built from a consistent set of notes called “action extensions”.
The course comes with a comprehensive set of exercises to let you build these chords and use them in a described scene. You can also get feedback directly from the instructor by posting your answers in the site forums.
Note: Lesson numbers continue from Action-Music Harmony 1 and 2
Lesson 7 – Composing Passages with Dissonant-Tonal Chords
- Understanding How Action Chords Are Used
- Expanding a Single Chord with “Action Extensions”
- Overview
- The m(b6), M(b6) and augM7(#9)
- Polytonal Voicings of Action Chords
- Overview
- The m(b6)
- The mM7(b6)
- The mM9(b6)
- The mM7(add#4)
- The mM9(add#4)
- The Mm(M7,b6)
- Unifying Action Chords
- Progressions with Chords from Different Action Scales
- Composing Out a Chord
- Composing Out a Scale
Lesson 8 – Dissonant-Bass Chords
- Preliminaries
- What Are Dissonant-Bass Chords?
- How Dissonant-Bass Chords Are Used
- Major Chord + Dissonant Bass
- +1 Major
- +4 Major
- +6 Major
- +9 Major
- +11 Major
- Minor Chord + Dissonant Bass
- +1 Minor
- +3 Minor
- +6 Minor
- +8 Minor
- +10 Minor
- +11 Minor
- Dissonant-Tonal Chord + Dissonant Bass
- Overview
- A Final Example
Lesson 9 – Polychords
- Overview
- Defining Polychords
- Common Polychords and Their Component Chords
- Typical Associations
- Pedal Point with Polychords
- Quiet-Tension Polychords Next to Action Music
- +11 Polychords
- +6 Polychords
- Polychords for Mystery in Action Scenes
- +4 Polychords
- Other Hexatonic Polychords
- Other Associations of Polychords
- Mortal Dread
- Brutal Strength
Join Our Mailing List
Receive an email when a new course or blog post becomes available.
By subscribing, you agree with our Privacy Policy.