Reharmonisation sandbox
Hear the path not taken.
Duplicate a progression, reroute one arrival, and compare the result. Every suggestion includes the theory and a melody check.
1 · Choose the arrival
Which chord should we approach differently?
2 · Pick a technique
Seven ways around the corner
Temporary tonicisation
Secondary ii–V
Proposed route into Bbmaj7
This route replaces 4 beats of approach harmony and preserves the 4-beat arrival. No beats are added to the form.
Why it works
A minor ii chord and its dominant create a local ii–V. The dominant contains a leading tone a semitone below the selected root, making the arrival sound briefly tonicised.
Choose a melody note to test chord-tone compatibility.
3 · Trust your ears
Compare the same passage
Same context, same number of beats—only the harmonic route changes.
A · Current harmony
16 beats · 4 harmonic events
B · Proposed route
16 beats · 5 harmonic events
The melody check is deliberately conservative: non-chord tones can still work as passing tones, suspensions, or intentional tensions.