The volumes in the Mapping Tonal Harmony collection have been envisioned as auxiliary material in the study of Tonal Harmony. The main objective of these books is to provide the student, teachers, composers and/or songwriters with a tool that will aid them in hearing, analyzing, foreseeing, and composing harmonic progressions without struggle, in all keys alike.
These workbooks are based on the map used in the Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro app by mDecks Music, which is recommended as accompanying material/tool for all volumes.
All maps, progression examples and exercises in these books, were designed to improve and expand the student?s view of the harmonic surroundings around each and every tonal center.
The volumes in this collection are organized in a progressive manner, each volume expanding the previous volume's map by introducing new harmonic concepts and/or functions, based on the premise that all functions introduced in earlier volumes have been understood and assimilated. Each new concept or function adds some level of detail to the map and/or extends the known area around the tonic.
Many of the concepts presented in these books are simply mentioned for mapping purposes only, and should be carefully studied by using other sources such as: a harmony course, tonal harmony books, teachers, etc.
Voice-leading and inversions are not covered in these volumes since their main objective is to map essential harmonic functions in every key.
Vol. 1 The basic major & minor diatonic neighborhoods Tonic - Sub-Dominant - Dominant. Basic harmonic progressions. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC). The use of V7 vs. V as a triad. Standard/Basic Harmonic Progressions in the nearby diatonic neighborhood. Use of the Tonic- Subdominant - Dominant - Tonic progressions. Progression over the Circle of Fifths: vi-ii-V-I Substitution: IVMaj7 in place of IIm7
Vol. 2 Mapping IIIm , I64, V7sus4 and deceptive cadences The complete diatonic neighborhood for Major-Minor Deceptive and Plagal Cadences. The IIIm (ambiguous chord : Tonic vs. Dominant). Cadential I64 or I/5, Im64 or Im/5 and the V7sus4: all preceding the V7. Borrowing chords from other modes
Vol. 3 More harmonic progressions and cadences in the diatonic neighborhood Mapping the SubV7 and its use as a Neapolitan chord Inverted bass and bass lines. Pedal points: Tonic Pedal and Dominant Pedal. Backward progressions and other progressions outside the circle of fifths. The half cadence to V7 without secondary dominants. The Neapolitan Sixth Chord (bII/3 or N6) and the SubV7 (bII7).
Vol. 4 Basic Secondary dominants and their related IIm7 V7/x, viio7/x, IIm7/x Basic Secondary functions. Creating a temporary key center in the diatonic neighborhood. Secondary Dominants (V7 and VIIo7 and the related IIm7). Extended Dominants.
Vol. 5 Mapping blues I7 IV7. Additional minor mode functions The bIIMaj7 subdominant minor and its related IIm7-V7 More borrowed chords from other modes and paths to modulations. The IV7 from dorian minor. The modal Vm. The bIIMaj7 subdominant minor chord (or root-altered IIm7b5) and its related IIm7 and V7. The I7 as tonic in the Blues and Blues form.
Vol. 6 Advanced secondary functions and deceptive secondary cadences Secondary cadential I64s & V7sus. Mapping IV/x , bVI/x, bVII7/x, viio7/x Other Secondary functions: IV/x bVI/x and bVII/x Creating a temporary Tonic in the diatonic neighborhood using secondary IV/x, bVI/x and bVII/x. More borrowing from other modes and paths to modulations. Secondary cadential 64s & V7sus.
Vol. 7 The entire MAP, including all secondary functions Mapping all secondary subVs/x and their related IIm. The N6 and Gr+6 More Secondary functions: SubV7/X . The Neapolitan 6 N6/X (same as SubV/3 no 7) The Augmented 6th chords. Gr+6, It+6, Fr+6. The related IIm7/X for the SubV7/X. Extended dominants. Reinterpreting chord functions. New paths to modulations.
Composer and pianist Ariel J. Ramos is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston and has been performing, teaching piano, and working with independent filmmakers since 1997. He is a first place recipient of the Cluzeau-Mortet piano competition and was awarded the Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarhsip.
Ariel Ramos is author of a wide array of books in the mDecks Series including UST Jazz Piano Voicings collection, Elementary Rhythmic Training, Reconstructing a Bach Fugue, and Piano Technique Vol. 1. In addition, Mr. Ramos has composed soundtracks for countless films and TV series including Warner Bros’s Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles and Pushing Daisies (TV series IDs for Latin America). Ariel’s studios and offices are now located in South Florida where he composes music for film, TV and chamber music, and arranges from small ensemble to full orchestra. Beyond his writing of books and his prolific composition Ariel also is a highly sought after pianist, performing jazz, latin and chamber music in South Florida. Finally, Mr. Ramos is a renowned piano, theory and composition educator.
