Harmony. It is the centerpiece of Western music. In this chapter we will strip harmony down to its elements: pitch, intervals, scales, chords, and key. If you don’t have any keyboard skills, now is the time to develop a few. The principals of harmony are the same for all (Western) instruments, but they are far more easily visualized on a piano keyboard. But even if you have no interest in every tinkling the old ivories, this chapter will help you better understand things such as harmonic mixing (the way many DJs match or transpose songs in different keys). Though your understanding of harmony, you will better understand what makes major major, and what makes minor minor — not to mention …um harmonies. Give those piano fingers a stretch and let’s get harmonic!
