14b Lesson - Secondary Leading-tone Chords

Class discussion

Harmonization of “Using a secondary leading-tone seventh chord”

Progression: C: I vi viio7/V V I

Soprano: C, C, C, B, C Alto: E, E, Eb, D, E Tenor: G, A, A, G, G Bass notes found from roman numerals and inversions.

Creating a viio7/ii and viio6/5 of ii in C Major

viio7/ii to ii: Soprano: E, D Alto: G, F Tenor: Bb, A Bass: C#, D

viio6/5 of ii to ii: Soprano: C#, D Alto: G, F Tenor: Bb, A Bass: E, D

Utilize tendency tones to work backwards from the target chord. In this case, a D minor chord. Since E is not a tendency tone in this example, figure it last to ensure that the tendency tones resolve properly. There are not many options due to voice leading rules.

Chord vs. Function

What is the difference between dominant chord and dominant function? A dominant chord is the V or V7, and brings us back to the tonic. Function is the reason the dominant chord goes back to the tonic. Dominant function includes other chords. A viio is the simplest example of a chord that shares dominant function with the V7, but we can have other chords that function as a dominant. A viio chord shares a dominant fuction with the V7, because it is the upper structure of a V7 chord.

Changing ii7 to a dominant seventh chord

Soprano: C5 - C5 - C5 - B4 - C5

Alto: E4 - E4 - F4 - G4 - E4

Tenor: G3 - A3 - A3 - B3 - G3

Bass: C3 - A2 - D3 - G2 - C3

Roman Numerals: I - vi - ii7 - V - I

• If you raise the F to an F# in the Alto line, you get a V7/V in the place of the ii7.

Take the same example, and add a ii7 before the V7/V.

Soprano: C5 - C5 - C5 - C5 - B4 - C5

Alto: E4 - E4 - F4 - F#4 - G4 - E4

Tenor: G3 - A3 - A3 - A3 - B3 - G3

Bass: C3 - A2 - D3 - D3 - G2 - C3

Roman Numerals: I - vi - ii7 - V7/V - V - I

Now, turn the ii7 into a viio/V.

Secondary Leading-tones

Secondary leading-tones create a viio that leads to the dominant. In C, the secondary dominant for V7/V is D7, and the secondary leading-tone is F#o. Where G is our dominant, D7 (V7/V) is the dominant to G, and F#o (viio/V) is the leading-tone to G.

• this is why secondary functions are labeled as a slash over a chord
• the top chord is the function, and the bottom chord is what the chord is functioning towards

Example in C

Make the ii7 a viio/V

Soprano: C5 - C5 - C5 - B4 - C5

Alto: E4 - E4 - F#4 - D4 - E4

Tenor: G3 - A3 - A3 - G3 - G3

Bass: C3 - A2 - A2 - G2 - C3

Roman Numerals: I - vi - viio/V - V - I

• Part writing for any viio is difficult.
• Changing it to a vii%7 gives you more options to avoid part writing errors.

Make the ii7 a vii%7/V

Soprano: C5 - C5 - C5 - B4 - C5

Alto: E4 - E4 - E4 - D4 - E4

Tenor: G3 - A3 - F#3 - G3 - G3

Bass: C3 - A2 - A2 - G2 - C3

Roman Numerals: I - vi - vii%7/V - V - I