| Overview | Modes and Harmonics | Explorations in Sound Program |

Modes and Harmonics

An Introduction to Music Theory for Sound Healing

This five week course will be an introduction to western music theory and an exploration of the harmonic series.  The first two weeks will cover the basics including major and minor scales, interval recognition, harmonic progressions, and western modes.  The second two weeks will focus on “A Guided Tour Through the Harmonic Series” with a monochord.  The development of temperament and scale systems from the harmonic series and musical examples of different tuning systems will be explored.  The last week will cover how sound healers incorporate musical concepts into sound healing modalities.

PDF Files
Here is an outline for this presentation.

This link is an outline in greater detail a lecture on the harmonic series, temperament systems, and overtone of harmonic chant.

Comparison of Equal Temperament vs. Just Intonation

Equal Temperament I IV V compare to Just Intonation I IV V

Equal Temperament I IV V 2 compare to Just Intonation I IV V 2

Equal Temperament I iv ii V compare to Just Intonation I vi ii V

Equal Temperament I vi ii V 2 compare to Just Intonation I vi ii V 2

Web Links for further exploration

The Harmonic Series
A brief history of the monochord.
Here's a good introduction to the harmonic series.
This is a fascinating article on harmonic rhythm.
John Hopkins University provides a good explanation of the physical components of harmonics and intervals.

Tuning and Temperament
Article on temperament.
Just Intonation Network's site. Check out the into to their primer when you're there.
Overview of temperament systems.
This is another good overview site with tools for understanding temperaments.