#AP Music Theory: Tonicization Study Guide 🎶

Hey there, future music maestro! Let's get you prepped for the AP Music Theory exam with this super-charged study guide. We'll break down tonicization, secondary dominants, and secondary leading tones in a way that's both easy to understand and totally memorable. Let's do this!

#7.1: Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords

#What is Tonicization?

Tonicization is when a chord other than the tonic is treated as a temporary tonic. It's like a brief visit to another key, but without fully moving there (that's modulation!).
Think of it like this: you're at home (your main key), then you visit a friend's house for a little while (a secondary key), and then you come back home.
Secondary Dominant: A dominant chord that is not the dominant of the main key, but the dominant of the temporary key.

#Identifying Secondary Dominants

Key Concept

Only major or minor triads can be tonicized. Diminished or augmented triads cannot be tonicized.

- Look for **accidentals**! They're your best clue that tonicization is happening. 💡 - Common tonicizations are to the **dominant (V), subdominant (IV), or supertonic (ii)** of the primary key. - In A major, tonicizing to the dominant (E major) would use B major as the secondary dominant (V/V). - If you see a II chord in A major, it might actually be a V/V chord.

#Notation

Chords in the secondary key are notated in relation to that secondary key. So, a B major chord in the key of A major is written as V/V, not II.

#Example: Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 10

Measure 17 Analysis:

Measure 17 Analysis: - Beat 1: V⁷ - Beat 2: I - Beat 3: V⁷/ii (A-C#-E-G, resolving to D minor) - Beat 4: ii

Notice how the V⁷/ii creates a more logical progression than just a VI⁷ chord. 🎼

Measure 18 Analysis:

Measure 18 Analysis: - Beat 1: V⁷/iii (B-D#-F#-A, resolving to E minor) - Beat 2: iii

Quick Fact

V/IV in major keys is just a I chord, so we use V⁷/IV instead.

#How to Spot Secondary Dominants

Accidentals: Are there any accidentals? If yes, you might be in a secondary key.
Chord Function: Does a chord resolve down a fifth or up a step? This is a classic sign of a secondary dominant.
Harmonic Context: Does the chord progression make sense in the secondary key? Look for common progressions.
Cadences: Where does the chord fall in the phrase? Is it leading to a cadence?

Common Mistake

Don't just look at the chord itself; consider its function within the phrase.

Practice Question

json
{
  "mcq": [
    {
      "question": "In the key of C major, which of the following chords is most likely to function as a secondary dominant?",
      "options": ["A minor", "D minor", "G major", "B diminished"],
      "answer": "D minor"
    },
   {
      "question": "In a piece in F major, a C7 chord is most likely functioning...

Harmony and Voice Leading IV (Secondary Function)

Hannah Hill