Non-Tertian Harmony
 

I am post an example of Quartal Triads. Where the intervals between each chord tone is a diatonic 4th.

Now inverted = Quintal
 

If you invert these into open forms you get Quintal harmony, based on diatonic 5ths. (Inverted 4ths are 5ths).

It is also interesting to note that Sextal harmony (based on 6ths)is open inversions of tertian harmony.

Interesting stuff. My question is how do you use this?

I mean I love quartal harmony and I use it quite often but maybe ya have an example of how you apply this - eg to comping over a II V progression.

Cheers

Guni

I don't have an example of comping but I did post a reharmonization of 'Jingle Bells' using this, to the reharmonization thread.

yep, and I just replied :D

I think that I should leave the comping examples up to you, since my uses for this are just to have weird harmonies and not for any particular substitution.

I do remember Frank Gambale writing several articles on 'Magic chords' which were sus 2 or sus 4 chords (which could be thought of as quartal ). I have the articles somewhere, but I have forgotten what he was trying to do with them.

I don't always have an immediate practical application for the concepts I post. Sometimes it is just to be informative. I am hoping those of you who are properly schooled can provide the practical application aspect.

i love that almost medieval feel that quintal harmonies create...

sorry, just thought I would put in my two cents

Using Quartal Harmony in comping
 

Hello , this is my first post here .
I used to be quite a Quartal Harmony Addict , and
back then , I learned how to comp in that style.

For example the progression like Dm7 - G7 - CM7 - FM7 .
This progression is based on C Major scale, no Sharp or Flat .
so the voicings for Quartal Harmony will be based on C Major Scale .
The voicing will be C on 5th string ,F on 4th , B on 3rd E ... like that .
But basically , I use 3note Quartal Voicing so that I can move the neck
much easier and able to blend in with other instruments .
When using this 3note Q Voicings,you can also Invereted like the other
triads .For example C triad will be CEG--EGC--GCE ,
and one of the 3note Q.Voicing from C major scale will be GCF-- CFG--GFC .
These inversions will give you much color in the Quartal Harmony .

Finally about the comping .
It's much like the usuall chord theory .
Watch out for the Avoid note !!
back to the progression , Dm7 . the avoid note will be ' B '
so just use the Q.voicing without 'B' .
If you want to emphasis the Character of ' Dm7 ' , using the Voicing
which contains 'F' would be good .
And same things can be said for the other chords G7 ,CM7 , FM7 .
But , most of the Tunes out there aren't just using same scale for
the entire song .
When it comes to the progression with Chord( scale )changes, change the
Quartal Harmony based another scale .
If the scale changed to one of the 7 modes( Ionian ,Dorian ..) , they are
same with some kind of major scale , so you can just move the Voicing .
But if it changed to the scale like , Melodic minor or Harmonic Minor ,
Voicings will change .

So, using the Quartal Harmony in comping ,
one has to know the Quartal Harmony based on Major scale ,
Melodic Minor scale , Harmonic Minor scale .
And knowing the note which should be avoided in the chord .

Well .... what I learned from playing with the band is
Not to over use it !!
Using the Quartal Harmony will give a quite a different color
to the harmony but will be boring if use it for entire tune .
Combining with the other Voicings will be the easiest and
most efficiant way .

I should have attached some score for it .
but this is my first post , I'll try it some other time .

Some tab or staff of your ideas would be helpful.
I suggest using powertab.

A while ago I played such a piece of progression:

F# -> F#sus4 -> F#5/E5 -> B5 (see image)

F#5/E5 is a good example of mixing two power chords so to form a stacked fifths structure (e, b, f#, c#). Sounds powerful ehough!

Zatz,
Under the Section Menu of PowerTab there is a choice to copy the section to the clipboard or to a file, this will get rid of the little blue cursor.

The sting song "If I built a fortress around your heart"
sounds to me like quartal haromies or a lot of pentatonic (6/9)chords.