Integrated Aural Skills 2018-19

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Ear Training - Chords Review

Triads in Review (All Inversions)

Please review the principles of identifying and notating triads from Unit 2.

  • The major triad is composed of a stacked major third plus minor third. The two commonest ways it appears in diatonic harmony are as chord I in a major key (do-mi-sol), and chord V (sol-ti-re) in major AND minor keys. It’s also very common for it to appear as chord IV in major keys (fa-la-do).

  • The minor triad is composed of a stacked minor third plus major third. It also occurs within the diatonic scale. In minor keys, it appears most commonly as chord i (do-me-sol). In major keys, it appears commonly as chord ii (re-fa-la)and as chord vi (la-do-mi).

  • The diminished triad is composed of two stacked minor thirds. It functions as chord vii0 in both major and minor keys, as well as chord ii0 in minor keys. In this class, we will always spell this chord ti-re-fa when we are singing it outside of a melodic or harmonic context. Please don’t attempt to spell or sing the diminished triad do-me-se. Not all chords relate to do, and this spelling has no context in diatonic music.

  • The augmented triad is composed of two stacked major thirds. It is relatively rare in diatonic harmony. It doesn’t naturally occur within the tones of the diatonic scale, and sounds very chromatic. For this reason, many learners find it hard to sing. When it does occur, it is usually spelled sol-ti-ri and appears as a chromatic variant of the dominant (sol-ti-re).

Play all triads and their inversions on the piano in a variety of keys. In addition, practice singing this triads workout in a variety of keys.

Triad Singing Workout

Seventh Chords in Review (All Inversions)

Please review the following tables on the properties of seventh chords in root position and all the inversions. Please refer to previous chapters for piano and singing practice excerpts.

Chord Name double diminished 7 half diminished 7 minor-minor 7 major-minor 7 major-major 7
Symbol dd 7 dm 7 mm 7 Mm 7 MM 7
Intervallic Structure of the Chord diminished triad + major third OR three stacked major 3rds diminished triad + major 3rd minor triad + minor 3rd major triad + minor 3rd major triad + major 3rd
Common Harmonic Function vii07 in minor keys iiØ7 in minor keys OR viiØ7 in major keys ii7 OR vi7 in major keys V7 in major AND minor keys rare in classical music; commoner in jazz and pop
Solfege ti re fa le re fa le do OR ti re fa la re fa la do OR la do mi sol sol ti re fa do mi sol ti
Chord dd 6/5 dm 6/5 mm 6/5 Mm 6/5 MM 6/5
Triad + Interval diminished triad + augmented 2nd minor triad + major 2nd major triad + major 2nd diminished triad + major 2nd minor triad + minor 2nd
Common Harmonic Function vii0 6/5 in minor keys iiø 6/5 in minor keys OR viiø 6/5 in major keys ii 6/5 OR vi 6/5 in major keys V7 in major AND minor keys rare in classical music, but can be I 6/5 in major keys in jazz
Solfege re fa le ti fa le do re OR re fa la ti fa la do re OR do mi sol la ti re fa sol mi sol ti do
Chord dd 4/3 dm 4/3 mm 4/3 Mm 4/3 MM 4/3  
intervallic relation m3 + A2 + m3 M3 + M2 + m3 m3 + M2 + m3 m3 + M2 + M3 M3 + m2 + M3  
function and solfege vii0 4/3 in minor - fa le ti re ii⌀4/3 in minor keys, le do re fa; vii⌀4/3 in a major key, fa la ti re. ii4/3 in a major key, la do re fa; vi4/3 in a major key, mi sol la do. Chord V4/3 in major and minor keys: re fa sol ti sol ti do mi  
salient features This chord may appear in 4/3 presentation in music. In this class, always ID it as root position.   Symmetrical   Symmetrical Only one of the 4/3 chords to feature a minor 2nd between its middle two pitches.
Chord dd 4/2 dm 4/2 mm 4/2 Mm 4/2 MM 4/2
intervallic and chordal relation A2 + diminished triad M2 + diminished triad M2 + minor triad M2 + major triad m2 + major triad
function and solfege vii0 4/2 in minor - le ti re fa vii⌀4/2 in major keys, la ti re fa; ii⌀4/2 in minor keys, do re fa le ii4/2 in major keys, do re fa la; vi4/2 in major keys, sol la do mi. V 4/2 in major and minor keys: fa sol ti re IM4/2 in major keys: ti do mi sol
salient features This chord may appear in 4/2 in scores. In this class, always ID it as root position. Apart from dd 4/2, the only 4/2 chord with a diminished triad. The only 4/2 chord with a minor triad. Strong dominant function = could resolve to I6 The only 4/2 chord with a minor second