For questions to related to the accepted uses of harmonic progression within the common-practice period. Questions may also necessitate the chord-progressions tag.
Questions tagged [functional-harmony]
143 questions
8
votes
6 answers
Can V resolve to iii?
Would the iii be a substitute for I under such circumstances or does iii make another deceptive resolution kind of like when V progresses to vi? iii also has ^3 and ^5 which belong to tonic harmony but since it doesnt have ^1 I cant say it sounds…
user35708
5
votes
4 answers
What is the function of the non diatonic chords in this intro?
I am trying to understand the harmony of this intro of a song but I can't seem to make sense of it. The song is in C and the intro is four bars:
| C | Ebmaj7 Dm7 | C | Ab Gm7
And then the verse starts on a C chord.
I think that it…
Bob
- 153
- 3
4
votes
2 answers
is iii7 a dominant chord with scale degree 3?
As a mediant chord the iii chord has scale degrees ^3 ^5 and ^7. If we add the 7th (^2) it will have all degrees of the scale the serve a dominant function. Can it be said then that iii7 is actually a dominant chord? ALready, the theory textbooks…
user35708
4
votes
1 answer
Is this cadence an example of the German theory that the mediant chord can have tonic function?
From what I understand of German theory the mediant iii chord can have tonic function as the "tonic counter-relative."
In this Bach chorale...
...the second cadence is on iii. The preceding chord is a leading tone chord so it's kind of a deceptive…
Michael Curtis
- 56,724
- 2
- 49
- 154
3
votes
1 answer
What is the functional description of the I-III-VI(7) progression?
How do you functionally describe the I-III-VI(7) progression, when used as a substitute for I-V-vi?
The bridge goes ii-V / I-V-vi / in the first two lines, then ii-V / I-III-VI(7),
resolving to ii-V-I.
I almost feels like a temporary excursion…
Paul F
- 31
- 1
3
votes
3 answers
Can the subdominant move to the tonic in simple functional harmony?
I'm working on making a progression using solely functional harmony for my music lessons. At the end of my progression, I have a V-iii-ii-I. Is this at all justified? I ask because (as far as I understand) this progression is essentially D-T-SD-T…
Evan
- 33
- 2
2
votes
2 answers
Enharmonic Mediant
In mixolydian mode, does the major chord on the subdominant lowered by a half step have any name? For example in E-mixolydian it is Ab-major and enharmonically, it would be the mediant. But what happens when viewing it this way?
HDB
- 129
- 1
2
votes
0 answers
Does ii°/ iim7b5 in minor have 2 different functions?
Because the chord has ^2 and ^6 and because this is a tritone interval it would normally resolve to to ^3 and ^5 pointing to III as tonic. But in minor we overide this function and because of the 5th relationship with the dominant chord, the ii…
user35708
2
votes
4 answers
does the progression VII > III in minor mean you have modulated to the relative major key?
Is this progression possible in a modal minor chord progression or does it immediately make the III chord the new tonic via an authentic cadence?
user35708
2
votes
3 answers
Is the passing 6/4 also used as a passing chord between root position chords?
In almost all music theory websites and books I have read it defines a passing 6/4 chord as a chord that passes between the same root and 1st inversion triads (eg I to I6) but I have not seen much that says that passing 6/4 chords can also be used…
user35708
1
vote
1 answer
Why is there a vii˚6 of III but no vii˚ of III in the minor mode?
When tonicizing the mediant chord in the minor mode, you often use VII which acts as a secondary dominant of III and is very useful in tonicizing III if you are in the minor mode. Another option is to use vii˚6 of III which is the ii˚6 chord built…
user35708
0
votes
0 answers
Does vi ever progress to I in functional harmony?
From what I understand, vi is a lightweight predominant chord and usually leads to a stronger predominant chord and nowhere have I seen a progression from vi to I in my harmony textbooks. However IV or IV6 do progress to I in functional harmony and…
user35708
0
votes
2 answers
Why does ii˚ and ii˚6 lead to V in minor when all they really want to do is resolve to III?
In tonal harmony, in the minor mode the subdominant chords built on ^2 and ^4 are diminished chords. The root position ii˚ is usually not used in minor unless it falls on a weak beat but even when it is both the ii˚ and the ii˚6 chord have the same…
user35708