Allen's Master Theory Help & Hints

(click image for Master Theory's Publisher)

Lessons 81-82

Two-Part Harmony

This lesson is pretty straightforward. Two-part harmony usually consists of a line of notes parallel to and below the melody at the interval of a diatonic 3rd or a diatonic 6th. Download and play the demonstration files that I have prepared. MT81a is the first example and is harmonized in thirds. MT81b is the second example and is harmonized in sixths. In each case, I have given you a run-through of the melody only before adding harmony notes.

Note that many songs mix the use of thirds and sixths in two-part harmony. This is because of the need to get  harmony notes under the melody notes which are compatible with the chord structure of the song. That's not a consideration in this exercise.

Note on Lesson 82:  Exercises 3 & 4 are not harmonization exercises. The book asks you to write syllables (Do-Re-Mi, etc.) under the notes, which represent the degree of the major scale that the note represents.

NOTE TO MY STUDENTS: Use numbers instead of syllables on Lesson 82, exercises 3 & 4.

Home       Back to MT Help & Hints     Back to My Private Students   Troubleshooting   Email Me