Topmusicanswers
At the very least, it involves two notes separated by fourths. For example, playing C and F together produces a sound that characterizes quartal harmony. If you stack another fourth (Bb) on top of the C and F, you get a typical quartal harmony voicing. Add more on top or below and you get really open-sounding chords.
- What does quartal harmony do?
- What is a quartal voicing?
- What are quartal chords used for?
- What is a quartal scale?
What does quartal harmony do?
In music, quartal harmony is the building of harmonic structures built from the intervals of the perfect fourth, the augmented fourth and the diminished fourth. For instance, a three-note quartal chord on C can be built by stacking perfect fourths, C–F–B♭.
What is a quartal voicing?
The term “quartal” in music refers to the interval of a fourth. When musicians refer to quartal voicings they are referring to chords that are built using intervals of a fourth (as opposed to intervals of a third, like major or minor triads, which are referred to as “tertian”).
What are quartal chords used for?
Quintal chords, created by 5th intervals, have a similar effect. Quartal chords can be used as 1-chords, as 4-chords, as passing chords… almost anywhere. In fact, you've probably marveled at jazz players using them and because of their distinct sound, you couldn't even tell what the player was doing!
What is a quartal scale?
The Quartal is a Source Structure which has 3 possible modes. It is composed of 3 notes and can be transposed without repeating notes, into 12 different keys. This structure does not present any transpositional symmetry. This structure is not a bi-triadic hexatonic.
