Introduction to Harmonic Dictation
43 Ear Training – Root Movement Cheat Sheet
Making Predictions the Easy Way
Remember: classical music (and pop music, and jazz) can be repetitive, and this makes chord progressions easy to predict. This is not a negative comment, but a reminder to use pattern-based logic in your understanding of music since music is made of patterns.
Memorize the following table – or make some flash cards using this information – for easy recall of the implied Roman numeral and figured bass analysis that we can predict from examining the movement of the bass notes in harmonic dictation.
| Bass Notes | Likely Chord Pattern |
|---|---|
| do, re, mi | I-V6/4-I6 OR I-V4/3 OR I-viio6-I6 |
| do, re, sol | I-ii-V |
| do, mi, fa | I-I6-IV |
| do, mi, sol | I-I6-V |
| do, fa, re | I-IV-ii |
| do, fa, mi | I-IV-I6 |
| do, fa, sol | I-IV-V OR I-vi-ii6 |
| do, sol, la | I-V-vi |
| do, la, fa | I-vi-IV OR I-vi-ii6 |
| do, ti, do | I-V6/5-I OR I-V6-I |
Takeaway:
Root movement is cardinal to identifying chord progressions. Even if you usually listen “melodically” to music, try focusing your listening on basslines this week.
The Bassline Challenge
When you listen to pop and rock music, turn up the bass and try to sing along with the bassline using solfege. You will quickly start to identify common chord progressions in context.
