Glossary
Chord progressions
A sequence of chords that creates a sense of musical motion, direction, and emotional narrative within a piece.
Example:
The classic blues uses a specific chord progression of I-IV-V.
Consonant chords
Chords that create a sense of stability, rest, and pleasing sound, often characterized by harmonious intervals.
Example:
The final chord of a piece is almost always a consonant chord, providing a sense of completion.
Diatonic
Meaning 'within the key,' this term describes notes or chords that belong naturally to a specific scale without alteration.
Example:
A melody using only notes from the C major scale is considered diatonic to C major.
Diatonic Chords
Chords built exclusively from the notes of a specific scale, forming the harmonic 'home team' for a given key.
Example:
In G major, the G major chord (I) and C major chord (IV) are both diatonic chords.
Dissonant chords
Chords that create a sense of tension, instability, or unresolved sound, often characterized by clashing intervals.
Example:
A jazz musician might intentionally use a highly dissonant chord to create a jarring effect before resolving it.
Dominant (V)
The fifth scale degree and the chord built upon it, which creates strong tension and a powerful pull towards the tonic.
Example:
A G major chord in C major is the Dominant (V), strongly leading back to C.
Harmonic minor scale
A minor scale where the seventh scale degree is raised by a half step, primarily used to create a major dominant (V) chord and a diminished leading-tone (vii°) chord.
Example:
To form a V chord in A minor, you would use the G# from the Harmonic minor scale instead of G natural.
I-IV-V progression
A foundational three-chord progression involving the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords, widely used in various musical genres for its strong sense of motion and resolution.
Example:
Many folk songs and pop tunes are built around the versatile I-IV-V progression.
Leading Tone (vii°)
The seventh scale degree, which is a half step below the tonic, and the diminished chord built upon it, creating strong melodic and harmonic pull to the tonic.
Example:
In G major, the F# diminished chord is the Leading Tone (vii°).
Mediant (iii/III)
The third scale degree and the chord built upon it, usually a minor chord in major keys and a major chord in minor keys.
Example:
The E minor chord in C major is the Mediant (iii).
Roman numerals
Symbols used in music theory to identify and analyze chords based on their scale degree and quality (major, minor, diminished, augmented).
Example:
The progression I-IV-V uses Roman numerals to show the relationship between the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords.
Subdominant (IV/iv)
The fourth scale degree and the chord built upon it, often a major chord in major keys and a minor chord in minor keys, providing a sense of departure from the tonic.
Example:
In the key of B-flat major, the E-flat major chord is the Subdominant (IV).
Submediant (vi/VI)
The sixth scale degree and the chord built upon it, typically a minor chord in major keys and a major chord in minor keys, often used for color or a brief detour.
Example:
The A minor chord in C major is the Submediant (vi), often appearing in progressions like I-vi-IV-V.
Supertonic (ii/ii°)
The second scale degree and the chord built upon it, typically a minor chord in major keys and a diminished chord in minor keys.
Example:
In F major, the G minor chord is the Supertonic (ii) chord.
Tonic (I/i)
The first scale degree and the chord built upon it, serving as the central and most stable chord in a key.
Example:
In a piece in D minor, the D minor chord (i) acts as the Tonic, providing a sense of home.
Tonic-Dominant (I-V)
A fundamental two-chord progression that establishes the tonic and then creates tension with the dominant, leading to a strong sense of resolution.
Example:
A simple children's song might end with a clear Tonic-Dominant progression, like C major to G major.