Harmony Across Genres

Classical music uses complex, evolving harmonies that modulate through different keys. A Beethoven symphony might visit six or seven key centers. Jazz expanded harmony with extended chords — adding 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths to create rich, ambiguous colors that challenge the ear.

Pop music tends toward simpler harmony — three or four chords repeated. But simplicity is not a weakness; it makes the melody the star. Blues uses a specific I-IV-V pattern with added 7ths ("dominant 7th chords") that create a bittersweet tension.