This new treatise of harmony is divided into five parts, each in relation with technical and stylistic data specific to the different periods of the history of music:
- at the end of the Renaissance and the beginning of the Baroque period, for an introduction to three-tone chords,
- the Baroque and Pre-Classical periods, for the handling of tonal functions, the reinforcement of cadences, the simple modulations and an introduction to four-tone chords,
- the Classical period, where we approach keyboard writing,
- the Romantic period (with in particular an approach of Chopin's language),
- Modern French music: Fauré, Debussy and Ravel, which allows to study non-functional chords, added notes, modal colors.
While clearly explaining the rules for learning to write music, the author always parallels the study of works, without ever dissociating technique and style.