The Use of Common Notes Leading to Popular Music Harmony

Abstract

This academic article aims to present a practical concept applying classical harmony and jazz harmony theory to popular music. The concept and methods of musical harmony in classical and jazz music are related. However, there needs to be an appropriate way to apply both concepts in practical usage. Therefore, the proposed method uses “common notes” as a basic concept to be applied to the musical harmony in both classical and jazz. From the concept mentioned, the author has proposed the guideline to observe and analyse music leading to the creation of musical aesthetics, which is different to mainstream music effectively. Also, it could be applied to the modern trend of making music through musical experiments and the arrival trend of music in the future.

          The finding of the paper has shown that the use of common notes is the method of using joint notes to connect to the piece. On the one hand, to make the harmonious, diatonic substitution found in classical and jazz music should be applied to enhance the peaceful and accordant tone in music. On the other hand, to make the spectacular tone in the piece, the suitable theory should be a chromatic substitution. However, both dimensions of applying the common notes based on the theories of harmony should have functioned under the individual music experiences in order to cultivate mutual aesthetics in society.