Harmonic Syntax

Abstract

This chapter adapts traditional Schenkerian analytical methodology to form a theory of rock harmony rooted in the concept of prolongation. The chapter begins with the premise that focusing on small-scale chord-to-chord successions, as many existing theories do, tells us little about rock’s harmonic organization. After describing a new, syntactically based approach to harmonic function, the chapter defines the functional circuit: a large-scale harmonic trajectory spanning at least one complete song section and comprising the functional succession from tonic to pre-dominant to dominant and back to tonic. This trajectory is familiar from centuries of theoretical work on harmonic function, but its adaptation to the rock style is not trivial. In particular, it requires disentangling the notion that only certain chords can carry certain functions. For instance, dominant function can arise not only from the standard V chord but also from IV, ii, or sometimes even I chords.