Dominant (Music)

In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. For example, in the C major scale (white keys on a piano), the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D. In music theory, the dominant chord in its root position is symbolized with the Roman numeral V if major and v if minor. As defined by Joseph Ftis the dominante was a seventh chord over the first note of a descending perfect fifth in the basse fondamentale or root progression, the common practice period dominant seventh he named the dominante tonique. A cadential dominant chord followed by a tonic chord (the chord of the key of the piece) produces an authentic cadence. If the roots are in the bass and the tonic is in the highest voice, it is a perfect authentic cadence. "Dominant" also refers to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of C major, the key of G major is the dominant. Music which modulates (changes key) often modulates into the dominant. Modulation into the dominant key often creates a sense of increased tension; as opposed to modulation into subdominant (fourth note of the scale), which creates a sense of musical relaxation.

See also

Source

  • Dahlhaus, Carl. Gjerdingen, Robert O. trans. (1990). Studies in the Origin of Harmonic Tonality, p.143. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691091358.

 

<< PreviousWord BrowserNext >>
clayton m. christensen
seventh
union for monaco
stamp catalog
national democratic party of germany
democratic opposition of serbia
the george
democratic party of serbia
dyad (music)
white house fellow
vojislav kostunica
national democratic party of germany (npd)
william sturgeon
quarantine (novel)
neesy o'haughan
list of u.s. helicopter crashes in iraq
jean carnahan
the george, southwark
estonian reform party
union for the republic res publica
whiskey in the jar
burjanadze democrats
british embossed postage stamps
much hadham
elka 22
john simon
palindromic prime
cocom
thistle
united states park police
democratic party (serbia)
zebra finch
g17 plus
mediant
democratic party of socialists of montenegro
socialist people's party of montenegro
abuse
submediant
supertonic
subtonic
golden gate national recreation area
south tyrolese people's party
zimmermann sassaman key signing protocol
quickshot arcade