The dominant chord is characterized by a strong motion from the fifth (sol) to the tonic (do).
This movement corresponds to a perfect fourth interval in the roots of the chord progression from V (dominant) to I (tonic).
Identifying Chords in Scores
Accidentals in Scores
When encountering unusual accidentals in a musical score, it is essential to verify if these are part of a major or minor seventh chord.
Check for a harmony that follows the seventh chord, particularly one that is a fourth above its root.
If such a harmony is found, it indicates the presence of a dominant fifth chord (V of something).
Singing Exercises to Improve Speed
Singing Root Motion
Engage in exercises to sing the root motions of various chords shown during the class.
Focus on the solfege syllable that corresponds to the root of each applied chord; this reinforces the concept of applied chords.
Modifications in Solfege
Notice that when stepping away from using the V7 of I (dominant seventh of the tonic), it is possible to use perfect fourths without the need for applied modified solfege syllables.
The structure of applied solfege is already integrated within the basic major scale.
Leading Tone in Dominant Seventh Chords
Importance of the Leading Tone
The leading tone (the seventh note in a scale) plays a critical role in the construction of dominant seventh chords.
It is found in the first inversion of the triad and is identified as the third of each V7 chord.
This leading tone contributes substantially to the distinctive sound associated with applied chords.
Singing Leading Tones
Practice singing the leading tones within the chord progressions to identify their relationship to the corresponding chords in the scale.
This can be practiced using a chromatic scale to emphasize the connection and feeling of the leading tones.
Borrowed Leading Tones and Tonal Centers
Effect of Borrowed Leading Tones
When melodies include borrowed leading tones, they can disrupt the perceived tonal center of the music.
Maintain awareness of the original tonic (DO) while identifying notes such as re, fa, or ti within the context of an applied chord.
Application of Chords Through Melodies
Use the knowledge of original chords when singing to help identify the changes in tonality caused by borrowed tones.
Practical Approaches to Singing
Complete Arpeggios
Engage in singing all complete arpeggios for each of the applied chords.
Simplifying Thought Processes
To internalize the chords better, think of the chord notes as unique words or phrases (e.g., "mi si ti re" instead of traditional solfege on its own) to make it easier to navigate through complex structures.
Pro Tips
It is beneficial to think of notes in terms of their relationships rather than as isolated intervals or solfege syllables (e.g., treat re, fa, la, do as a cohesive unit).