Exploring close harmonies*

For this composition, you will experiment with chords that combine 2nds and 3rds.  I recommend you use chords with only three notes at first, but you could use four-note chords if you feel up to it.  I also recommend you do this exploration at the piano, at least at first.  You might find that you come up with a series of chords you love and you want to divide those notes up between several other single-line instruments.  For now, let's just find notes that sound good.  Your only goal when starting this composition is to find note combinations that are pleasing.  That said, to add some guidance and a healthy challenge, here are a few more parameters.

Create three-note chords made from stacked 2nds and 3rds.  Choose 1-3 of these combo-chords in a row, then resolve to a traditional triad (a chord made from 3rds only).  Repeat.  This will create a sense of tension and release, (a healthy build-up of energy followed by its resolution).  You will probably not like every combination you come up with.  That's fine, just write down the ones you like.  You should choose a single key in which to write these chords, but you might find that the chords lead your ears to want a change of key.  If you find yourself adding a sharp or flat here and there and it leads to a new key, let it happen!  Sometimes, a single sharp or flat addition doesn't really lead to a new key, it just adds some color.  That's fine too.

You may find that your collection of chords just keeps wandering about and never goes anywhere.  If you find that happening, you can choose to use some kind of musical form to structure your chord sequence so the piece makes sense.  Choose a collection of chords and call that a section, then repeat it again elsewhere.  This composition prompt doesn't say anything about a melody, but of course you can add one if you want.  Or you can just make the movement between chords feel more melodic by moving one note at a time, creating even more interesting harmonies as you wait for the new chords to be completed.

*First published (in slightly varied form) in Music:  A Brief Introduction, copyright 2021