Applying Negative Harmony To Modes

Tommaso Zillio
Songwriting Composition Theory , Guest Columnists , Video Enhanced Column

I've promised a video on Negative Harmony and Modes, and here it is. Finally we can see what Negative Modal theory is all about.

To really understand what is going on, in this video we are also going to see:

  • How you can understand modes using the Order of Brightness, and how this relates to Negative Harmony
  • How you can take a pre-existing modal chord progression or melody and run it through Negative Harmony to create a new one
  • Why Negative Harmony is called 'Negative' and not for instance 'inverted' or 'reversed' harmony

DISCLAIMER: the ideas in this video are not yet known in the music community. Few people are talking about Negative Harmony, and even less about Negative Modality. New music will be written using these tricks. Either you write it, or somebody else will!

Don't miss this occasion to write something genuinely different with these new ideas:

If you want to know more about Negative Harmony and understand how it works and why, here's an introduction to it:

And if you want to see an example of Negative Harmony (but not Negative modality yet) in action by a master composer, here's the story of one of the best melodies ever written:

Enjoy!

Tommaso Zillio

Tommaso Zillio is a professional prog rock/metal guitarist and composer based in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Tommaso is currently working on an instrumental CD, and an instructional series on fretboard visualization and exotic scales. He is your go-to guy for any and all music theory-related questions.

Tommaso Zillio
Tommaso Zillio