Topmusicanswers
What is chromatic harmony?
The simple definition is that a chromatic harmony is chords that build on or include notes that aren't part of the key. Let's start with the secondary dominant chords, as those are the easiest to understand. Secondary dominant chords are chords built on the dominant of the dominant key.
What is the effect of chromaticism?
Chromatic chords add color and motion to romantic music. Dissonant, or unstable, chords were also more freely than during the classical era. By deliberately delaying the resolution of dissonance to a consonant, or stable, chord, romantic composers created feelings of yearning, tension, and mystery.
What are Chromatics in music?
Chromatic tones in Western art music are the notes in a composition that are outside the seven-note diatonic (i.e., major and minor) scales and modes.
