Meaning & use
reharmonize
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitivemusictechnical
To give a piece of music a new set of chords while keeping its melody.
Grammar: Takes an object: reharmonize a tune. The object is usually a song, melody, or chord progression.
Patterns
- reharmonize something
- reharmonize a melody
- reharmonize a tune in a different key
The pianist decided to reharmonize the old standard with richer, jazzier chords.
Arrangers often reharmonize a simple folk song to make it sound more modern.
She reharmonized the chorus so that it ended on a surprising chord.
verbtransitive or intransitivemusicformal
To arrange for musical parts or instruments to work together in a new, pleasing way.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (reharmonize the choir parts) or without one when the context is clear (the sections need to reharmonize).
Patterns
- reharmonize something
- reharmonize with something
The conductor asked the woodwinds to reharmonize with the strings.
After the soloist changed key, the band had to reharmonize quickly.
Word forms
| third person singular | reharmonizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | reharmonized |
| past participle | reharmonized |
| -ing form | reharmonizing |
Common combinations
- reharmonize a tune
- He likes to reharmonize a tune until it sounds completely fresh.
- reharmonize a melody
- You can reharmonize a melody without changing a single note of the tune.
- reharmonize in a different key
- The teacher showed us how to reharmonize in a different key.
- reharmonize the chords
- They reharmonize the chords at the end of every verse.
Synonyms and how they differ
- revoice
- Used more for changing which notes are played in a chord, not for choosing a whole new chord progression.
- arrange
- A broader word for preparing music for performance; reharmonize is only about changing the chords.
Word family
Commonly confused: reharmonize or harmonize?
reharmonize vs harmonize
Harmonize means to add chords for the first time or to make parts agree; reharmonize means to replace chords that are already there.
Practice
The arranger wanted to give the old song a modern sound, so she decided to ___ it with jazz chords.
Choose one answer.
Reharmonize means to replace the existing chords with new ones, which fits the idea of making an old song sound modern. Harmonize would suggest adding chords for the first time, rehearse means to practice, and rewrite means to change the words or notes, not just the chords.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reharmonize”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.