Adding Harmony to a Melody
ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY
Essential Question: What is the process to add an alto, tenor, and
bass harmony line to a melody (like the one below)?
Prior Information You Will Need
 Reading the Treble and Bass Clefs.
 Finding and labeling the key.
 Using numbers (or solfege) to analyze the melody.
 Building triads/chords on each scale degree.
 Analyzing what triads/chords contain the melody




pitch.
Writing down the Roman numeral analysis.
Inversions.
Vocal ranges of the voice parts.
Basic part writing rules.
THE PROCESS
 DETERMINE THE KEY.
 ANALYZE THE MELODY USING SCALE DEGREES.
 ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO BE
USED.
 CREATE YOUR BASS LINE.


BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE PARALLEL FIFTHS AND EIGHTHS
REMEMBER TO WRITE IN THE RANGE OF THE BASS VOICE
 FILL IN THE ALTO AND TENOR LINES.
 FILL IN THESE VOICES ONE VOICE AT A TIME AS IF EACH WERE
THEIR OWN MELODY.
 REMEMBER EVERY CHORD MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT UNLESS
THE RESULT WILL BE BREAKING THE RULES. ONLY THE THIRD
MAY BE OMITTED.
 DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU DID
NOT MISS ANYTHING OR BREAK THE RULES.
1. DETERMINE THE KEY
D:
2. ANALYZE THE MELODY USING SCALE
DEGREES
1
D:
1 1
5 6 7
1
7 6
5
1
7
6
5
6 5
43 2 1
3. ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO BE USED.
(FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, WE WILL ONLY USE CHORDS – I, IV, & 5)
D:
1
1 1
I
I
I
5 6 7
V IV V
1
7 6
I V IV
5
1
V I
7
6
5
6 5
43 2 1
V IV V IV V IV I V
I
ON YOUR OWN…
 ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO
BE USED.
 CREATE YOUR BASS LINE.


BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE PARALLEL FIFTHS AND EIGHTHS
REMEMBER TO WRITE IN THE RANGE OF THE BASS VOICE
 FILL IN THE ALTO AND TENOR LINES.

REMEMBER EVERY CHORD MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT
UNLESS THE RESULT WILL BE BREAKING THE RULES. ONLY
THE THIRD MAY BE OMITTED.
 DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU
DID NOT MISS ANYTHING OR BREAK THE RULES.
WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT ONE
STEP FARTHER…
WE ARE GOING TO USE THE ARRANGING TOOL
IN SIBELIUS AND CREATE AN ARRANGEMENT
FOR AN ENSEMBLE.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
1. Select your current SATB arrangement – notes only.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
2. Copy the material selected.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
3. Open a new Sibelius file/arrangement.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
4. In the Manuscript Paper select an ensemble that
has at least FOUR pitched instruments.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
5. Choose the same time signature of the original
version.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
6. Select the same key as the original. (Remember you
can change it later.)
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
7. Put in the title, composer, and remember YOU are
the arranger of this one.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
8. Select all of the pitched instrument parts to include in your
arrangement. Remember, include at least FOUR.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
9. Go up to NOTES in your top bar, and click on
Arrange…
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
10. In the Arrange… screen select Standard
Arrangement and click OK.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
10a. Sibelius should automatically create the
arrangement for you.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
11. Edit and add what you choose to your arrangement.
Things to look for:
1. Out of range notes.
2. Parts doubled too many time for YOUR ear.
3. What is thought of as a “tenor” instrument may be
playing the “alto” line, which if fine if YOU want it
that way.