Harmony simplified: The home and away framework for songwriters
Hey music makers,
Ever noticed how some songs grab you emotionally from the very first chord change?
That's not luck or magic—it's the songwriter understanding something fundamental about how harmony works on our emotions.
Today I'm opening up my songwriting notebook to share a concept I've been obsessing over lately. It's helping me write more intentionally, and I think it might be the missing piece for many of you too.
Think of harmony like breathing. In and out. Tension and release.
It's what gives music shape—just like the ups and downs in a good story keep you engaged.
Hold onto this fundamental concept:
Tonic (the I chord) is HOME. Every other chord is essentially "away from home" in some form.
When you understand this, you're no longer just picking random chords that sound "cool"—you're creating an emotional journey for your listeners.
In Western music, we typically use seven notes that aren't just lined up in a row—they actually orbit around each other like planets, with some having more gravitational pull than others.
The I chord has the strongest gravity.
It's where your ear feels most comfortable—the place of rest and resolution.
Three main harmonic functions create the emotional journey:
Tonic (I, vi, iii) - These chords feel like home or variations of home. They provide stability and resolution.
Subdominant (IV, ii) - These chords feel like a movement away from home. They create a sense of departure or change.
Dominant (V, vii°) - These chords create tension and anticipation. They make the listener crave resolution back to home.
What fascinates me is how reliable these relationships are in achieving a certain type of emotion.
Listen to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," which absolutely nailed the painful and grieving emotions of the story Titanic. I cried when I first saw that movie as a kid.
Here is a progression from "My Heart Will Go On":
vi - V - IV - V - vi - V - IV - V - I
The V - I is delayed with the vi - V - IV - V progression, and it creates an emotional effect.
Try this when you can:
Play the I - V - I
Listen to the journey home - away - home
Play the Celine Dion progression
Notice how it feels delayed
Want to create different emotional effects? Here's how different chord movements feel:
Moving from tonic to subdominant (I → IV) feels like opening a door to new possibilities
Moving from subdominant to dominant (IV → V) creates a building sense of anticipation
Moving from dominant to tonic (V → I) delivers the satisfaction your ear has been craving
These classic progressions are powerful because they take listeners on a complete emotional journey:
I → IV → V → I (The classic journey: home → away → tension → home)
I → vi → IV → V (The journey that never quite resolves, creating forward momentum)
vi → IV → I → V (Starting away from home creates immediate interest)
Here's a little secret: certain chords can serve dual purposes.
The vi chord can function as either a tonic substitute or as a subdominant depending on the context, giving your progressions depth and intrigue.
And if you want to create specific emotional effects, try these classic cadences:
V→I: Full resolution (strongest, most satisfying ending)
V→vi: Deceptive cadence (creates a surprise twist)
IV→I: Plagal cadence (the gentle "Amen" feeling)
Remember: There's no "wrong" way to use harmony. These are tools for expression, not rules to constrain it.
🎯 Challenge for the Week
Try this in your next songwriting or practice session:
Start with a simple I-IV-V progression, then substitute the vi chord where you'd normally use the I chord.
Notice how it creates a sense of beautiful, unresolved emotion—like the musical equivalent of a bittersweet ending to a story.
Expertment with adding and subtracting chords based on the emotion that you want to create.
Understanding these relationships doesn't limit your creativity—it expands it. Now you're not just picking chords; you're creating emotional landscapes.
Has a specific chord change ever given you chills? I'd love to hear about it—and maybe analyze why it hits so hard emotionally. I read every reply and genuinely enjoy these conversations about what makes music move us.
💎 Gems From Around The Web
Songwriting Sourcebook by Rikky Rooksby - I love this book. Rikky does a great job at teaching you how to turn chords into great songs, starting with the three-chord song and eventually moving onto writing songs that change keys.
Functional Harmony - This video provides a good explanation of functional harmony with simple audio examples.
