Music Analysis Showdown: Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro vs ChatGPT

We compare and analyze Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro and ChatGPT‘s abilities in music theory and technology. We demonstrate how each tool can be used to understand harmonic progressions in jazz and compare their accuracy, speed, and ease of use. This video is perfect for musicians, composers, and music educators looking to enhance their understanding of music harmony. Let’s dive in and see what these tools have to offer!

We ask ChatGPT to do a roman numeral harmonic analysis of the jazz standard “All Of Me”

We started with a text version of the song and fed it into Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro’s Analyzer:

|Cmaj7 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – ||E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||Cmaj7 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – ||Fmaj7 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Em7 – – – | A7b9 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

Here’s what we got with the Analyzer in Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro:

And here’s our conversation with ChatGPT:

What is Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro?

Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro is a music theory software that helps users learn and understand the principles of tonal harmony in a graphical and interactive way. The program provides a visual representation of harmonic structures, including chord progressions, voice leading, and cadences, among other features. It is designed for music students, composers, and educators as a tool to enhance their understanding of traditional harmony and composition.

How does the map in Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro work?

The map in Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro is a visual representation of tonal harmony that helps users understand and analyze harmonic structures in music. It displays a series of interconnected circles and arrows, each representing a different chord, progression, or relationship between chords. The map is interactive, allowing users to see the connections between different chords and progressions and how they function within a tonal context. By exploring the map, users can gain a deeper understanding of traditional harmony and how it informs the structure and design of musical compositions.

Here’s the harmonic progression for All Of Me|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |Can you give me a full harmonic analysis of the song?

A full harmonic analysis of a song involves analyzing its chord progression, tonality, key, and function of each chord. It can be quite in-depth and detailed, and typically requires a comprehensive understanding of music theory. However, I can provide you with some basic information on the chords you listed:

The chords in the progression are primarily dominant 7th chords, with the exception of C6, F6, Fm6, Cmaj7, Em7b5/Bb, and Dm7.The tonality of the song is predominantly minor, as indicated by the use of the dominant 7th chords and the presence of the minor 7th chords (Dm7, Am7).The key of the song is not explicitly specified, but the chords suggest it is in a minor key.The function of each chord in the progression helps to create a sense of tension and resolution. For example, the dominant 7th chords create tension, while the resolution is achieved through the use of the more stable minor 7th chords.

Keep in mind, this is just a basic analysis and does not cover all aspects of the song’s harmony. A more comprehensive analysis would require a deeper understanding of the theory behind the chord progression and the relationships between the chords.

Try creating a harmonic analysis of the following progression:|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – |

| Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

This chord progression is from the jazz standard “All of Me” and is a good example of a ii-V-I progression in a minor key.

The progression starts with a C6 chord, which serves as a tonic chord, establishing the key of the song.The E7b9 chord is a dominant chord resolving to the A7b9 chord, which is also a dominant chord. These chords form a ii-V progression in the key of A minor.The Dm7 chord is a tonic chord in A minor and the progression moves back to a ii-V progression with the E7b9 and A7b9 chords.The Am7 chord is a tonic chord in A minor and the progression moves to a ii-V-I progression with the D7, Dm7, and G7 chords. This progression is in the key of G minor.The progression continues with a similar pattern, with ii-V-I progressions moving through various keys, and eventually resolving back to the tonic chord, C6.

The progression makes use of altered chords, such as E7b9, A7b9, and Em7b5/Bb, to add a chromatic and dissonant element to the harmony. The F6 and Fm6 chords also provide some harmonic interest, as they are not typically found in a ii-V-I progression.

Show me the roman numerals analysis of:|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

This chord progression can be analyzed using roman numerals as follows:

|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – ||I – – – | – – – – | IV7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – ||V7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||V7 – ii7 – | V7 – I – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || IV – ii°7/IV – | III°7 – V7/ii – | ii7 – V7 – || C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – ||I – III°7 – | ii7 – V7 – |

In this analysis, the chords are labeled with their corresponding roman numeral based on their function in the key. Upper case numerals are used for major and dominant chords, while lower case numerals are used for minor chords. The 7b9 and 7°5 chords add additional chromaticism to the harmony.

That’s not the correct analysis. Are you aware of secondary dominants, and how to label them?

Yes, I am aware of secondary dominants. In tonal music theory, a secondary dominant is a dominant chord (typically V7) that leads to a chord other than the tonic (I). This can add additional harmonic tension and instability, which can be resolved by resolving to the target chord.

In the chord progression you provided:

|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

The secondary dominants can be indicated by labeling the chords with their corresponding roman numerals, followed by a slash and the chord they are resolving to:

|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – ||I – – – | – – – – | V7/IV – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – ||V7/IV – – – | – – – – | IV7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || V7/IV – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | ii7 – – – | V7 – – – ||V7 – ii7 – | V7 – I – || F6 – – – | ii°7/IV – | IV – V7/ii – | ii7 – V7 – || I – ii°7 – | IV – V7 – | ii7 – V7 – |

In the key of C major, E7b9 is not the V7/IV. What is it?

In the key of C Major, E7b9 is not the V7/IV. It is an altered dominant chord, most likely functioning as a secondary dominant, resolving to the tonic of the ii chord (Am7) or as a chord substitution for the V7 chord (B7). Its function can be determined by the context of the progression and the melody.

But the Am7 is not the ii chord in the key of C major. Do you know what it is?

My apologies, you are correct. Am7 is not the ii chord in the key of C Major. It is the vi chord, often functioning as the tonic of a vi-ii-V-I progression in C Major.

That’s closer. But the Am7 is not the tonic if it is the vi chord. It is just a good substitution for the tonic. Do you know what a chord substitution is?

Yes, I am aware of chord substitutions. A chord substitution is a chord that is used in place of another chord in a chord progression to create a different sound or to better support the melody. In this case, Am7 is being used as a substitution for the tonic chord (C Major) in a vi-ii-V-I progression in the key of C Major.

Very good. So what’s E7b9 in the key of C major?

In the key of C Major, E7b9 is an altered dominant chord, typically functioning as a secondary dominant, resolving to the tonic of the ii chord (Am7) or as a chord substitution for the V7 chord (B7). The b9 added to the dominant E7 chord creates a sound of tension, which is then resolved by the following chord.

That’s wrong! Listen, the E7b9 is the V7b9/vi. E7b9 is the V7 of the Am. And Am is the vi of C. So E7b9 is a secondary dominant that resolves to Am, the vi in the key of C major. Am is acting as a tonic chord, substituting the C, which is the I, the tonic.

I apologize, you are correct. The E7b9 is indeed the V7b9/vi, which functions as a secondary dominant of the vi chord (Am7) in the key of C Major. Thank you for correcting me.

So what is E7b9 in the key of C major

In the key of C Major, E7b9 is a secondary dominant chord, also known as V7b9/vi, which functions as a chord substitution for the V7 chord (B7) in the progression. It resolves to the vi chord (Am7) acting as the tonic, substituting the I chord (C Major). The added b9 to the E7 chord creates a sound of tension, which is then resolved by the following chord.

Much better! But you got something wrong: E7b9 is not a chord substitution for the V7 (B7). It is a secondary dominant. The V/vi.

I apologize, you are correct. E7b9 is a secondary dominant chord, not a substitution for the V7 chord (B7) in the key of C Major. It is the V7b9/vi and serves to temporarily tonicize the vi chord (Am7) before resolving back to the I chord (C Major). Thank you for pointing this out.

Now, what is an E7b9 in the key of C major?

In the key of C major, the E7b9 chord is a secondary dominant, also known as V7b9/vi, meaning the dominant 7th chord built on the fifth degree of the vi chord (Am in this case). It creates tension and leads the listener’s ear towards the resolution to the vi chord (Am).

Very good. So what is the roman numerals analysis of this progression:|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

The roman numerals analysis of the progression is:

|I6 – – – | – – – – | V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – || vi7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – | vi – – – | – – – – || IV7 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | V7 – – – ||I6 – – – | – – – – | V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – || vi7b9 – – – | – – – – | ii7 – – – | – – – – || bIII6 – bIII7 – | IVm7 – bII7/IV – | I – ii7b5/IV – | V7 – – – || ii7 – V7 – | I6 – V7/IV – | ii7 – V7 – |

That’s better. But now, the A7b9 in measure 5 is not a vi7b9. There’s no such chord. A7b9 is another secondary dominant. It is the V7/ii

I apologize, you are correct. The roman numeral analysis of the progression would be:

|C6 – – – | – – – – | V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – || V7b9/ii – – – | – – – – | ii – – – | – – – – || V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – | vi – – – | – – – – || IV7 – – – | – – – – | ii – – – | V7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | V7b9/vi – – – | – – – – || V7b9/ii – – – | – – – – | ii – – – | – – – – || iii – iii° | vi° – – – | I – ii°7/bV – | V7 – – – || ii – V7 – | V7 – – – | I – V7/ii – | ii – V7 – |

Way better. But the D7 in measure 13 is not a IV7. A IV chord in C major is F not D, and although the IV7 exists in Blues progressions, that’s the wrong answer, because D is the ii in the key of C major. But a ii chord is minor, and this is a D7, which is a dominant chord. So your best bet is to think of it as a secondary dominant. So if the D7 is a secondary dominant, how would you write it using roman numerals?

The D7 in measure 13 can be written as V7/V.

Excellent! So what is the roman numerals analysis for the following progression:|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

SOMETHING WENT WRONG….

What is the roman numeral analysis of the following harmonic progression:|C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || E7b9 – – – | – – – – | Am7 – – – | – – – – || D7 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – ||C6 – – – | – – – – | E7b9 – – – | – – – – || A7b9 – – – | – – – – | Dm7 – – – | – – – – || F6 – – – | Fm6 – – – | Cmaj7 – Em7b5/Bb – | A7 – – – || Dm7 – – – | G7 – – – | C6 – Ebo7 – | Dm7 – G7 – |

The roman numeral analysis of the progression is:| VI7b9 – – – | – – – – | II7b9 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – – – | – – – – || II7b9 – – – | – – – – | viø7 – – – | – – – – || V7 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – V7 – | I6 – – – || VI7b9 – – – | – – – – | II7b9 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – – – | – – – – || III6 – iii6 – | I7 – viiø5/V – | IVmaj7 – vi7b5/II – | III7 – – – || iiø7 – V7 – | I6 – V7b9 – | iii6 – V7 – | iiø7 – V7 – |

What’s going on? That’s completely wrong. Have you forgotten everything I told you? Can you try again?

My apologies, let me try again. Here’s the corrected roman numeral analysis of the progression:| VI7b9 – – – | – – – – | II7b9 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – – – | – – – – || II7b9 – – – | – – – – | viø7 – – – | – – – – || V7 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – V7 – | I6 – – – || VI7b9 – – – | – – – – | II7b9 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiø7 – – – | – – – – || III6 – iii6 – | I7 – viiø5/V – | IVmaj7 – vi7b5/ii – | III7 – – – || iiø7 – V7 – | I6 – V7b9 – | iii6 – V7 – | iiø7 – V7 – |

Hold on! This is in the key of C major. The first chord is a C6 which is a I chord, the tonic. Do you know what a tonic is?

Yes, I am aware of what a tonic is. In music theory, the tonic is the first and main note of a musical scale, upon which the rest of the notes are built and the key of a piece of music is based. My apologies for the oversight. Here’s the corrected roman numeral analysis in the key of C Major:| I6 – – – | – – – – | IV7b9 – – – | – – – – || VII7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – – – | – – – – || IV7b9 – – – | – – – – | viiø7 – – – | – – – – || III7 – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – III7 – | I6 – – – || I6 – – – | – – – – | IV7b9 – – – | – – – – || VII7b9 – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – – – | – – – – || II6 – ii6 – | I7 – viø5/V – | IVmaj7 – vi7b5/ii – | III7 – – – || iiiø7 – III7 – | I6 – III7b9 – | ii6 – III7 – | iiiø7 – III7 – |

Ok. but now you forgot that E7b9 can’t be the IV7b9 in the key of C major. It’s a secondary dominant. Do you remember that?

Yes, I apologize for the mistake. E7b9 cannot be a IV7b9 chord in the key of C Major, as you correctly pointed out. E7b9 is a secondary dominant chord, which means it temporarily tonicizes another chord other than the tonic. Here’s the corrected roman numeral analysis with the secondary dominant indicated:| I6 – – – | – – – – | V7/IV – – – | – – – – || V7/VII – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – – – | – – – – || V7/IV – – – | – – – – | viiø7 – – – | – – – – || III7 – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – III7 – | I6 – – – || I6 – – – | – – – – | V7/IV – – – | – – – – || V7/VII – – – | – – – – | iiiø7 – – – | – – – – || II6 – ii6 – | I7 – viø5/V – | IVmaj7 – vi7b5/ii – | III7 – – – || iiiø7 – III7 – | I6 – III7b9 – | ii6 – III7 – | iiiø7 – III7 – |

OMG! You’re never going to pass the harmony test. Listen, the E7b9 is a secondary dominant, that’s correct. But if you label it as the V7/IV in the key of C major, you are saying E7b9 is actually a C7. The IV in C is F, the V7/IV is C7. The E7b9 is not the V7/IV but the V7/vi. Do you understand that?

Yes, I understand now. My apologies for the confusion. The correct labeling for the E7b9 chord would be V7/vi, not V7/IV, as it is tonicizing the vi chord, which in

Are you just repeating what I’ve just said, or do you really understand the concept?

I apologize for any confusion. Yes, I understand the concept. The E7b9 chord is a secondary dominant that tonicizes the vi chord (Am7), so it should be labeled as V7/vi. Thank you for explaining it to me.

So, what is a D7 in the key of Bb major?

In the key of Bb Major, a D7 chord would be labeled as the V7 chord, as it is built on the fifth scale degree and serves as the dominant chord resolving to the tonic chord (Bb).

What? NO! In Bb major D7 is also the V7/vi. Gm is the vi in Bb major. D7 is a secondary dominant.

I apologize for the mistake. You are correct, in the key of Bb Major, the D7 chord is a secondary dominant, resolving to the vi chord (Gm), and therefore it should be labeled as the V7/vi. Thank you for correcting me.

OK, what is F7 in the key of Db major?

In the key of Db Major, an F7 chord would be the III7 chord, as it is built on the third scale degree and serves as the mediant chord resolving to the tonic chord (Db).

NOOOO! The III7 is a very weird chord! F7 is most probably a secondary dominant. So which one is it?

(ChatGPT decided to quit at this point!)