Dominant

Definition

The dominant is the fifth scale degree of a diatonic scale and plays a crucial role in establishing harmonic relationships within tonal music. It typically creates tension that seeks resolution to the tonic, making it a key player in establishing tonality and progression, especially when paired with triads and seventh chords.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The dominant chord is usually built on the fifth scale degree and can be major or minor depending on the context.
2. In seventh chords, the dominant seventh chord contains a tritone between its third and seventh, creating strong tension that resolves to the tonic.
3. The movement from dominant to tonic (V to I) is one of the most fundamental progressions in Western tonal music.
4. In harmonic function, the dominant serves to create a sense of anticipation that leads back to the resolution provided by the tonic.
5. The dominant can also function in secondary dominants, where it temporarily leads to a chord other than the tonic, enhancing modulation and progression.

Review Questions

• How does the dominant function within common chord progressions in tonal music?
  • The dominant functions as a key tension point within common chord progressions. It typically creates a sense of anticipation that seeks resolution back to the tonic. For example, in a typical progression like I-IV-V-I, the dominant (V) leads directly into the tonic (I), creating a strong sense of closure and stability. This relationship emphasizes the importance of the dominant in shaping musical phrases.
• Discuss how harmonic function affects the use of dominant chords in four-part writing.
  • In four-part writing, dominant chords are used strategically to create voice leading that enhances harmonic function. The resolution from a dominant seventh chord to a tonic chord typically involves moving each voice smoothly while resolving tensions, particularly from the tritone within the seventh. This careful handling of voice leading helps maintain clarity and reinforces tonal stability, making the dominant an essential component in well-crafted harmonies.
• Evaluate the role of secondary dominants in harmonic progression and how they influence modulation.
  • Secondary dominants play an important role in enriching harmonic progression by temporarily altering the tonal center before resolving back to the original key. They provide a means to create tension by acting as dominants for chords other than the tonic, allowing composers to explore different tonal areas. This strategy not only enhances modulation but also adds complexity and depth to musical narratives, making it an effective tool for composers seeking emotional and structural variety.

Related terms

Tonic:

The tonic is the first scale degree of a diatonic scale and serves as the home base or central note around which the rest of the scale is built.

Subdominant:

The subdominant is the fourth scale degree in a diatonic scale, often used to create motion toward the dominant and eventually back to the tonic.

Cadence:

A cadence is a harmonic progression that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music, often involving movements from the dominant to the tonic.