What are Harmonized Scales?

A harmonized scale refers to the process of creating chords by stacking intervals from a particular scale. It involves building chords by using the notes of a scale as the foundation. By harmonizing a scale, you can determine which chords naturally occur within that scale and use them to create chord progressions and harmonies in music.

To harmonize a scale, you typically take each note of the scale and stack thirds on top of it. This means that for each note, you add a third above it, and then another third above that. The result is a series of chords that complement the notes of the scale.

For example, let’s take the C major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) as an example. To harmonize this scale, you would stack thirds on each note:

• Starting with C, you add a third above (E) and another third above that (G), resulting in the C major chord (C-E-G).
• Moving to D, you repeat the process, resulting in the D minor chord (D-F-A).
• Continuing this pattern for each note of the scale, you would get the following chords:
  • E minor (E-G-B)
  • F major (F-A-C)
  • G major (G-B-D)
  • A minor (A-C-E)
  • B diminished (B-D-F)

These chords derived from the C major scale are the harmonized chords of that scale. They can be used to create chord progressions and provide a harmonic framework for melodies and compositions.

Harmonizing a scale allows you to understand the chords that naturally fit within a particular key, enabling you to create harmonies and establish tonal centers in your music.