What comes to mind when you hear the word connecting? When asking a question like this in a classroom setting it’s wise to allow time for individual responses. You’ll be surprised by the multi-faceted responses. What follows seems like a blog on the building of relationships, then leads to the finding of meaningful connections in the way chords interact.
In the flow of music melody, harmony, and chords are inextricably linked. In addition to knowing the movement of the bass line, it helps to be acutely aware of how pitches in the melody are related to the bass pitches. In the excerpt from Bach’s “Air” from Suite in D Major you’ll hear a beautiful example of how chords are linked as a repeated pitch changes function.