Harmony of Rock and Pop

Basics of Harmony in Rock and Pop

Harmony is the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions.
In Rock and Pop music, the chord progressions are typically simple and repetitive.
The most commonly used chords are the primary chords (I, IV, V).
Sometimes a ii-V-I jazz progression may also be used.
Melodies often move in a way that is consonant with the supporting harmony.
A song’s mood or tone can often be defined by its harmony.

Conventional Chord Progressions

The I-IV-V progression is very typical, creating a ‘happy’ or ‘resolved’ sound.
The ii-V-I progression is often used in jazz influenced pop songs.
Minor chord progressions, for example vi-IV-I-V, are common in rock and pop ballads to create a more sad or reflective mood.
In rock music, power chords (comprising the root note and the fifth) are frequently used due to their ‘strong’ and ‘driving’ sound.

Harmony and Song Structure

Within the conventional song structure (intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, middle 8, chorus, outro), harmonic variation plays a key role.
The verse often has a relatively simple repetitive harmonic pattern.
The chorus usually contains the complete chord progression and delivers the ‘payoff’ of the song.
The middle 8 provides a contrasting harmony and prepares the return to the chorus.
Many songs resolve harmonically in the outro by returning to the root chord.

Exotic Scales in Rock and Pop

Although most music in western culture is grounded on the major and minor scales, certain styles and musicians employ exotic scales.
The blues scale, with its flattened notes, is characteristic to a lot of rock music.
Some pop and rock songs feature modal interchange, borrowing chords from parallel scales to add interest and tension to the harmony.

Remember, understanding and recognising harmony is key to a comprehensive understanding of rock and pop music. By being able to identify chord progressions and contextualise them within the song’s structure, you’ll be able to analyse and interpret a wide variety of songs.