The Jazz Harmony Book By David Berkman Full 'link' May 2026
The Jazz Harmony Book by David Berkman: A Comprehensive Guide to the Full Musical Experience
- Preface — author’s aims, how to use the book.
- Foundations of Harmony — intervals, triads, seventh chords, basic voice leading.
- Chord-Scale Concept — major/minor modes, Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian, etc., with scale–chord maps.
- Extended and Altered Dominants — altered scale, diminished approaches, tritone substitution.
- Modal Harmony and Modal Interchange — borrowing chords, modal vamps, applications.
- Quartal and Quintal Harmony — voicings, comping examples, modern-sounding textures.
- Polychords and Upper-Structure Triads — constructing colors over common roots.
- Reharmonization Techniques — secondary dominants, backdoor progressions, planing.
- Voice Leading and Inner Voices — smooth bass lines, guide tones, inner-voice movement.
- Rhythm Changes, Blues, and Standards — harmonic analysis and reharmonization of classics.
- Advanced Concepts — metric modulation, polytonality, cluster voicings, free harmony.
- Arranging and Orchestration Tips — applying harmony to small ensembles and big band.
- Transcription Studies — recommended solos, annotated transcriptions.
- Practice Routines and Study Plans — progressive exercises for 30/60/90-day goals.
- Appendices — chord/scale reference charts, tuning and intonation notes, glossary, recommended listening.
What you’ll find inside:
- Intermediate to advanced improvisers and accompanists seeking modern, practical harmony tools.
- Teachers looking for structured curricula and progressive exercises.
- Arrangers wanting fresh voicings and reharmonization methods.
voice leading
The book is famous for its focus on and melodic embellishment . Where other texts might list the available tensions on a dominant chord (b9, #9, #11, b13), Berkman demonstrates how to connect those tensions to the next chord. He teaches that harmony isn't a series of isolated blocks, but a flowing river of counterpoint.
