GCSE MUSIC HARMONY

Primary Chords

Chords I, IV and V in a major key and I, iv and V in a minor key (1,4,5)

Secondary Chords

Chords ii, iii and vi in a major key and ii, III and VI in a minor key (2,3,6)

diatonic

Music based on the major and minor scale system – sounds pleasant

Tonic

1st note of any scale and the chord that is built on the 1st note

sub-dominant

4th note of any scale and the chord that is built on the 4th note

Dominant

5th note of any scale and the chord that is built on the 5th note

Perfect cadence

Chord V followed by chord I

Imperfect cadence

I-V, II-V, IV-V

Interrupted Cadence

Chord V followed by vi

Plagal cadence

IV-I

Chord Sequence/Progression

A series of chords following each other

Harmonic Rhythm

The rate at which chords change in a chord progression

Pedal

a long sustained note

Dissonance

When two or more notes sound together to create an unstable effect in terms of the harmony i

Power Chords

The name given to a chord that uses the root and the 5th (i.e. no 3rd) – used by rock guitarists