Greg Howlett is a Christian concert pianist and recording artist.
I have watched many of his free video lessons and blog posts on reharmonization.
Listed below are some of the reharmonization ideas I got from him.
- A ii chord substitues for a V chord (and a IV chord).
- A iii chord substitutes for a I chord.
- A vi chord substitues for a I chord or a V chord.
- Change V-I cadences into ii-V-I cadences.
- Insert a minor 5 (v) and dominant 1 (I7) in front of a 4 (IV) chord
- A dominant chord usually resolves down a fifth or sometimes a half step.
- Very often, if a progression is moving with the circle of fifths, you can change one of the normal minor chords to major (making it a secondary dominant).
- Add a flat 9th to secondary dominants if resolving to a minor chord.
- minor 7 chords likes to resolve down a fifth or in diatonic steps.
- You can insert a diminished chord betweet 4 and 5 chords.
- You can substitue a sharp4 dim - minor4 6th - minor 3 - flat3 dim - ii7 - V7 -I for a V-I cadence.
- Which color note belong to each chord?
Major/Major 7th
9, #11, 13 (9 is the most common)
Minor 7th
9, 11, 13 (9 is the most common)
Dominant
b9, 9, #9, #11, b13, 13 (All are widely used. However, you are most likely to use b9, 9, b13, and 13.)
Here is a sample of his free video lessons: "Relating harmony to melody"
Free Lessons for Chruch Pianists:
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DVD Courses (Reharmonization, Play by Ear!, Arranging, Accompanying, Theory for Church Pianists, etc.):
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