akkordmenet

Akkordmenet is a sequence or arrangement of chords that forms the harmonic backbone of a musical work. It provides the framework within which melody, rhythm, and form unfold. The term can be translated as chord pattern or chord progression and is used in analyses of Western tonal music.

Most akkordmenet are functional, assigning chords to roles such as tonic (I), pre-dominant (ii, IV), and dominant (V, V7). These functions guide movement toward resolution, typically returning to the tonic. Common patterns include I–IV–V–I, I–vi–IV–V, and the jazz-influenced ii–V–I progression. The choice of progression influences mood, tension, and sense of arrival in a piece.

Akkordmenet interact with melody and rhythm, contributing to harmonic rhythm—the rate at which chords change. They can be colored by extensions and alterations, such as seventh chords, suspended chords, or borrowed chords from other keys, and may involve modal interchange or secondary dominants. Modulations to new keys or shifts in harmony broaden the sonic palette of an akkordmenet.

In practice, akkordmenet appear across genres, including classical harmony, pop, rock, jazz, and film music. Analysts typically use roman numerals to represent chords and describe functional relationships, while performers rely on the progression to shape phrasing, cadences, and transitions. Overall, akkordmenet describe the predictable yet expressive path through harmony that underpins much of Western music.