Harmonic progression
What Harmonic progression means in Music A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Harmonic progression
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Reference: AQA
Understanding chord symbols allows musicians to quickly interpret complex harmonic structures, inversions and alterations within a pop music context.
The way simultaneous pitches combine to form chords and how these chords progress, providing a structural framework for compositions.
Analysing a chorus involves identifying its harmonic progression and how it is prepared by the pre-chorus or verse.
The underlying chord progression or form of the piece, of which one complete cycle makes up a chorus.
Topics that use Harmonic progression
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
- Area of study 2: Pop music - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
- Area of study 5: Jazz - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Articulation
- Expressive techniques
- Glissando
- Instrumental techniques
- Sonority
- Vibrato
- 13th chord
- A cappella
Using Harmonic progression in the exam
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