Study Notes on Dominant Chords and Applied Harmony

Dominant Chords and Applied Harmony - musicianship

  • Dominant Chord Characteristics

    • Dominant chords are characterized by strong sol-do motion.

    • The movement creates a perfect fourth between the roots of the chords in the progression from V to I.

  • Identifying Dominant Chords

    • When encountering unusual accidentals in a score representing a major or minor seventh chord, check if the chord is followed by another harmony a fourth above its root.

    • If it is, you have found a V of X chord (an applied dominant chord for a root).

  • Improving Speed Through Singing

    • Engage in singing the root motion of displayed chords to improve ear training.

    • While singing, take note of the corresponding solfege syllable for each applied chord.

    • Avoid using modified solfege syllables by extracting the V7 from I (or any similar context) since all perfect fourths are present in the basic scale.

  • Key Component of Dominant Seventh Chord

    • A leading tone is essential in a dominant seventh chord.

    • This is marked particularly when referencing the V7/IV chord, introducing our discussion of borrowed leading tones within the scale.

  • Understanding the Leading Tone

    • The leading tone resides in the first inversion of the triad and is regarded as the third of each V7 chord.

    • Singing Exercise: Practice singing leading tones throughout the progression, noting which solfege syllable serves as the leading tone to each chord in the scale, repeating the exercise to reinforce learning.

  • Chromatic Action

    • The exercise introduces new chromatic movement typically through the use of a chromatic scale, including duplicating notes (for instance, singing me multiple times).

  • Impact of Borrowed Leading Tones

    • Alert to melodies containing borrowed leading tones which may distort the tonal center.

    • Keeping track of the original DO note and the various pitches (d, phi, c, etc.) assists in identifying the applied chord.

  • Locking in Chord Sounds

    • Engage in singing along with the complete arpeggios of various chords to solidify understanding and recognition of sound.

  • Pro Tips for Learning

    • Approach singing solfege with each chord as if they are unique words (e.g., mi, si, ti, re), simplifying the association rather than treating them as a formulaic sequence (such as re, fi, la, do).

    • This conceptual shift aids in memorization and recall, simplifying the process into familiar patterns that enhance musical recognition.