Modern Jazz - Tonal vs Modal Harmony
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 Published On Jul 9, 2016

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This Jazz Piano Tutorial is about the difference between Tonal Harmony and Modal Harmony.

Tonality is a system of harmony created & used in the Common-Practice Period (that is, in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Eras of classical music), so from about 1700 to 1900. Tonal harmony is the ‘standard’ music theory that you learn through your classical music studies. And, in fact, most of my other lessons presuppose or function within ‘tonal harmony’.

Tonality has the following features:
- It uses Major and minor keys
- It uses a Functional Harmony
- It has a Tonal Centre (i.e. root note)

Modality has the following features:
- It uses all modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, etc.)
- It does NOT use a Functional Harmony
- It has a Tonal Centre (i.e. root note)

Modal harmony creates a more ambiguous and vague sound and is now considered much more ‘modern’ than traditional tonal harmony and gives improviser much more freedom and choice in their solo.

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