LEARN RIGHT HAND OCTAVE HARMONISATION - FREE LESSONS

*This lesson will require your right hand to be able to play an octave apart. If your fingers are unable to reach, you should play without the bottom note.

 

We are assuming you are able to play quite well, and probably have been improvising for a while. If you don't, try our other free online lessons. Firstly, let's understand that in a song, the melody line should always be stronger than the accompaniment (chords on your left). Thus harmonization is important as it adds richness to your melody. If you are already harmonising your melody, consider a full octave harmonisation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, say if you are able to do full octave harmonisation, try 'splitting' the melody in a rhythmic repetition. In this technique, you will add a lower octave repetition note of the melody line, which comes either a quaver or semi-quaver before the targeted melody note.

 

This technique can be applied to any melody. The top most notes carries the melody line, while the repetition notes are the most bottom notes. It is important to note that the repetition notes in this exercise are different from grace notes. There is a note value to which repetition note, for instance a quaver, semi-quaver or triplet, unlike a grace note that is shorter in length than the principal note which it 'graces'.

 

Pay attention to the rhythm, remember that every note you play must be 'countable'.