Functional Harmonic Progression

Notes

I (tonic chord) can move to any function

The strongest progressions move from one level of the diagram to the one immediately below

A weaker progression skips a level (like vi to V, or ii to I), and usually needs the strong movement of lines to compensate.

Skipping two levels (as in vi to I or iii to V) is very weak, and has little feeling of chord change

Moving upward in the diagram from any chord except I is a retrogression; V to vi is a deceptive cadence

General guidelines in harmonization

Use mostly strong progressions

Use weaker progressions sparingly, on weak beats, or with strong movement of lines, and never leading toward cadences

Cadences should follow familiar patterns (half, authentic, plagal, or deceptive)

Bass lines can be smoothed our through the use of 1^st inversion chords

2^nd inversion triads, other than the cadential tonic six-four, should be used sparingly, and almost never on strong beats (again, the exception being the cadential tonic six-four.)

Don’t repeat a chord or bass note from a weak beat to a strong.