Functional Harmony - Chord substitutions for songwriters

Functional harmony and finding chord substitutions are related. This video explains how harmony is functional in general and then how songwriters can find chord substitutions using functions.

Weekly Lesson #68



Lesson Content Outline with Timestamp Links:
0:00 - About this lesson and channel
0:59 - Definition of functional harmony
1:36 - The 3 main functions in functional harmony
2:49 - How chord substitutions work in functional harmony
3:31 - Theory of tonic functioning chords
4:10 - Theory of dominant functioning chords
4:34 - Theory of subdominant functioning chords
5:02 - Example of chord substitution in songwriting
5:38 - Lyric writing skit
6:29 - Lyrics & melody with initial chord progression
6:46 - Swapping the chords with substitutions
8:28 - Full song idea with the new chord substitutions
9:02 - Conclusion: When to think in terms of function
11:50 - Next lesson / Outro

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Lesson Description:
This week's lesson is all about functional harmony. What it is, how it works, and how we can use it. Learning functional harmony is super useful for finding chord substitutions when writing progressions or jamming. And I know studying music can feel a little dry and academic at times, so I included a little humor that anyone who's tried writing lyrics might relate to. In this lesson I write a song with a basic chord progression and then use functional harmony to replace each chord with a chord substitution.

Check out related videos I've made on similar topics in these playlists:

#functionalharmony #chords #guitarlesson #songwriting #musictheory #guitar #guitarchords

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Even though functional harmony isn’t the prevailing method for creating music these days, it’s still helpful to know about and understand, especially for seeing how chords overlap and behave similarly so we can find chord substitutions when songwriting or jamming.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and found it beneficial. Let me know what you thought. Thanks! :)
~ Jared
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[tylertyler]

Not enough love to this channel, great job thank you for covering this type of content.

[javierayala]

Functional Harmony you guys always do it on mayor scales

[BuzzworthyBand]

Incredible lesson. A decade's worth of music theory research synthesized into 12 minutes. Thanks!

[nobones]

Eye opening as usual. You have a very unique and admirable way of making simple sense out of concepts that I've heard of before but never really understood. Thanks again.

[migueldospachangas]

Excellent presentation; very well explained. De-mystifying concepts one at a time. Music can be a enigma, with it being broken down it becomes less so. Easy going and soft spoken, makes for a pain free lesson.

[puppynation]

Again one of the best guitar lessons of my life.
You are doing an amazing job.
Keep on going
Thank you very much

[dantegoodboy]

your video really helped my understanding of functional harmony. Amazingly concise and clear !

[michaelzimmer]

Thanks. I have been trying to figure out, with respect to functional harmony, why a practical person who creates music care. You have made it clearer why it can be a tool in the toolkit.

[Mike-cx]

Great lesson. Definitely getting “the babies (finally) sleeping in the other room” vibes though…😊

[annalittlemonster]

Love this so much, was SO helpful.
Thank you! u have a beautiful voice 🧡

[seanwholey]

Jared, thanks so much for sending me the link to this lesson. This was a light bulb lesson for me! I had no idea that the seven notes served one of three essential functions and the chords within those functions are interchangeable! Now I'm really feeling inspired! Thanks!!!

[stuartarnold]

Another Great lesson, I really had a light bulb moment. Thanks again for sharing.

[noberinnspotchi]

Hi Jared,
You’re doing a great job. No promises to be the new guitar hero here, but a fonctionnal guitar toolbox.
Keep on going !
Christophe from France

[mrpitusberry]

thank you, really cool lesson, looking forward to the next one ;)

[johnnylonglegs]

okay I'm subscribing and gonna hit these videos not drunk. maybe hopefully this gets me to where I need to be. trying to tour next summer on a record.

[jeremiahgarcia]

BLOWS MY MIND THAT YOU DONT HAVE ATLEAST A MILLION SUBS!

[iggykarpov]

04:59 I - vi - ii - V
06:27 Lyrics added
06:46 Substitute with functionally equivalent chords
11:14 Another way to substitute chords: add extensions to chords for color

[iggykarpov]

Jared, the subdominant is called that, because it is the dominant going in the opposite direction: "The term "subdominant" refers to the fourth note of a diatonic scale, and it's named so because it's the same distance below the tonic as the dominant is above it (a fifth)." The term 'submediant' has a similar explanation.

[xIbrax]

Does this also apply to a minor scale? For instance, does the V and VII of a minor scale also act as dominant chords? I can't find this info anywhere

[TheLochan]

For chart mailing, it says invalid to to my vailid email id's
Some problem is there .