This example (taken from Beethoven's variations on God Save the King) shows the various stages of an analysis using the method suggested on this website. You might want to print out the Detailed Summary of the method to refer to as you go through this example. Click below each example for a higher resolution image opening in a separate window.

Stage One

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Stage Two

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• note that having identified the more straightforward prolongations, I have suggested that the second two third progressions in the top line prolong the harmony that is in force for their final note. In the final example the beginning of the third progression from D to B - basically a prolongation of V - is harmonised by chord II.

Stage Three

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• stage three can be split into two stages:
  • firstly, use stems to identify the notes that connect up the stage two linear units into larger units
  • secondly, cut out the other notes from each progression and use beams to make the connections more clear
• this short extract is not really long enough for a background stage four analysis