Chapter 4 Flashcards
supercharging a song with secondary dominants
What is a secondary dominant?
The primary dominant is only on the fifth of the major scale (the V7). A secondary dominant, however, can be constructed on other scale degrees – especially the second, third and sixth degrees, which in the harmonised diatonic scale are minor chords.
If we change these minor triads to major dominant sevenths, raising the flattened third degree by a semitone and adding the flattened seventh (e.g., iii to III7, vi to VI7, etc.), they can also take on the dominant function.
What is another name for the III7?
(‘V of vi’)
What is the benefit of using secondary dominant chords?
They increase a songwriter’s ‘master source’ of chords by bringing II7, III7, VI7 and VII7 into the equation in addition to ii, iii, vi and vii.
Do secondary dominants always have to have the b7? Do they always have to be 7th chords?
No. While these chords are traditionally termed dominants, the 7 itself may not always be present, as it is in the primary dominant 7th. It is the major incarnation of the chord that is essential. (they could be thought of as secondary majors).
Nevertheless, the dominant seventh is common and adds a harder, bluesier texture while contributing to what we will see to be effective voice-leading.
What are functioning secondary dominants?
the function of the secondary dominant is usually to intensify the resolution to the next chord in any Cycle Of Fifths movement by effectively creating just another ‘V7-I’ move.
These are called functioning secondary dominants because they always function as what we can term a ‘local V’, resolving to a chord down a fifth interval.
What is another name for the II7?
(the ‘V of V’)
there=ii
yeah=II7
you=V7
It seems that the verse is set to end with a familiar Bm ii-V. At the last minute, they make two changes to the minor chord, adding the major 3rd and the 7th to lead us – now with B7 to the E7 chord.
The B7 is a functioning secondary dominant (here a II7). It functions as the V of the primary V chord, it is often referred to as ‘the five of five’.
What is another name for the VI7?
(the ‘V of ii’ or ‘V of II’)
A functioning secondary dominant built on the sixth note of the scale would be the major ‘VI7’ rather than ‘vi’. This in turn can be similarly thought of as ‘V of II’ (or ‘V of ii’), as it leads us directly to either the major or minor triad built on the second degree of the scale, with the same root move of a fifth.
What is the I-VI7-II7-V7?
laugh=I
and=VI7
sun=II7
I’ve=V7
Laugh about= I
A functioning secondary dominant built on the sixth note of the scale would be the major ‘VI7’ rather than ‘vi’. This can be thought of as ‘V of II’ (or ‘V of ii’), as it leads us directly to either the major or minor triad built on the second degree of the scale, with the same root move of a fifth.
We now have the major sequence: I-VI7-II7-V7, a bluesy version of the otherwise identical Doo-Wop turnaround.
How is “ I call your name” an example of the I-VI7-II7-V7?
“Name”=I7
“There”= VI7
“Blame”=II7
“Unfair”=V7
What is the I-VI7-ii-V7 variation on the I-VI7-II7-V7?
When songs open with the same strong I-VI7 move and proceed around the cycle with the same root movement – but actually retain the ‘sweeter’ ii minor rather than switching it to II7.
“Joan”= I
“Studied”=VI7
“science”=ii
“home” =ii7
“late nights”=V7
“oh,oh,oh”=I
What is the II7 and the ‘Imperfect Cadence’ – ‘the middle feeling’ ?
Just as we saw Imperfect cadences cued by ii minor (e.g., ‘It Won’t Be Long’), so we can find a II-V or II7-V7 sequence that ends a progression – again without having resolved satisfactorily to the tonic. Again the V chord seems to take on a life of its own – as if the key centre had briefly shifted to it – a feeling to which the II7 contributes more strongly than the ii minor. One songwriting expert even re-christens the Imperfect cadence ‘the middle feeling’ as it tends to occur in the middle of a song
How is “I Will” an example of II7 and the ‘Imperfect Cadence’ – ‘the middle feeling’ ?
Prior to this point in the song, all the G chords have been minor (ii chords). But now the G7 sets up V as we reach the crux of the song. The melody even makes use of the new, non-diatonic B note on the words ‘when we’re’, taking us in leading-note fashion to the C note, the root of the same V chord. And, of course, melodically, this ‘5’ (the C of ‘apart’) denies us the peaceful tonic.
Love=IV
ever=iii
we’re=iv
Love=II7
apart=V7
How does “Ill get you “ use II7 and the ‘Imperfect Cadence’ – ‘the middle feeling’ ?
It’s no surprise, given how the device leaves us hanging in suspense, that the Imperfect cadence is usually associated with a suitably poignant lyrical message.
gonna=IV
gonna=I
might as well= II7
me=V
How does “1 after 909 “ use II7 and the ‘Imperfect Cadence’ – ‘the middle feeling’ ?
Given the very term ‘middle eight’, the listener is expecting the verse to resume after eight bars culminating in the first Imperfect cadence – yet we are duly thwarted as the progression repeats. The fact this harmonic ‘bum steer’ coincides sublimely with the lyrics ‘wrong location’ speaks for itself.
pick up my bags=IV7
run=I7
railman=II7
wrong location=V7
v7 leads to IV not I!
pick up my bags=IV7
run=I7
Then I=II7
number wrong=V7
How does “Rockey Racoon” use the II7 and the Cycle Of Fifths?
the use of II7 in a more prominent Cycle Of Fifths setting helps us make another quantum leap towards an appreciation of more sophisticated Beatles songwriting. McCartney’s ‘Rocky Racoon’ is one song that illustrates this perfectly. The song eventually emerges as clearly in C major; yet it starts on the relative minor (vi) which is soon confirmed as heading for the home tonic via a II-V.
Rocky=vi7
into=ii7
only=V7
bible=I
Rocky=vi7
equipped=ii7
shoot=V7
rival=I
What is another term for the III7 and how is it used?
(the ‘V of vi’, or ‘V of VI’)
It may seem innocuous in this context, but the use of III7 was evidence of slick songwriting in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll. II7 was everywhere, but the ‘supercharged mediant’ – whose task is now to create a sense of anticipation for either the vi or VI7 – was a much rarer, acquired taste.
ask you=I
very=III7
confidentially=VI7
aint=II7
she=V7
sweet=I
How can the III7 be used in an opening gambit for a bridge?
You can use The III7 as an opening gambit for a bridge idea. This was done in ‘You Can’t Do That’, where a B7 chord reinforced by it’s rogue major 3rd in the melody combine to capture the singer’s gloating.
green= III7—-vi
i’m=ii
won=iii
Again, think of III7 as ‘V of vi’, as the chord is really only destined for the relative minor. The cyclicality of the move should also be highlighted. The Bm technically upsets the root movement in fifths, its a nifty relative minor substitute for the D chord that would have led us back, V-I, to G, as it does second time around.
Can III be used as a secondary major?
Using III, check out the E chord in the bridge to ‘No Reply’. In this case, the 7th has been dropped, because it clashes with the natural 7th in the melody. The target chord is also a major triad, so the principle still applies, as the ‘secondary major’ takes us – with the same expected root movement – from III to VI. Most importantly, The Beatles ensure that the E chord itself falls directly on the word ‘realize’ (and, later, ‘lies’), emphasizing dramatically the sentiment of John’s gripe.
realize=III
I=VI
lies=III
I=VI
How can I-III7-VI7 be used in a more down home RNB blues style?
I-III7-VI7 was famously popularized by the piano giant, Leroy Carr, on standards like ‘Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out’ That song features the famous opening line ‘Once I lived the life of a millionaire’, a textbook emphasis of I-III7 that reappears in a select list of intricate blues originals,
once=I
life=III7
millionaire=VI—-VI7
How did McCartney use the ‘I-III-vi’ move in “ A World Without Love” ?
Please=I
away=III
dont=vi
inside=I
hide=iv
loneliness=I
‘Your Mother Should Know’ Here’s a song where we conveniently find II7, III7 and VI7 all in one neat progression The verse starts on Am which, it could be argued, appears as an opening tonic minor chord; but as we soon wind up in the key of C, can equally be understood as ‘just’ a vi chord. But watch as it is converted into a secondary dominant, A7, that acts as ‘V of ii’ and ‘V of II’, resolving naturally first to the Dm (in bar 4) and then to D7 – a chord which is itself a secondary secondary dominant II7 acting as a now-familiar ‘V of V’. Finally, there’s the E7, the III7 – or ‘V of vi’ – which acts as a turnaround chord, that takes us back to the Am at the top.
Lets=iv
dance=IV
hit=VI7 Functioning Secondary Dominant
mother=ii
though=V7 Primary Dominant
long=I
ago=VI7 Functioning Secondary Dominant
know=II7Functioning SecondaryDominant
your mother should=V7 PrimaryDom
know=I
sing it again=III7 Functioning Secondary Dominant resolving to iv
VII7 (the ‘V of iii’)
Why is the VII7 a slick way of reaching one of The Beatles’ favorite targets – the mediant?
We’ve already seen how the rare appearance of a minor chord built on the leading tone typically leads down a fifth. And again, this same root movement can be accentuated by replacing the chord with a secondary dominant, just as we have done with ii, vi and iii. The same voice-leading and root movement applies, with the target for the manoeuvre being this time a iii or III chord of some description.
How does Sexy Sadie use the VII7 (the ‘V of iii’) ?
sexy Sadie= I——VII7
Functioning secondary Donminant——
What have you done= iii
In both theory and practice VII7 is a perfect starting point for an extreme Cycle Of Fifths journey which can proceed inexorably all the way to I. The jazz standard ‘Mr Sandman’ is perhaps the ultimate blueprint for this, with its beautiful symmetry that runs, in the key C: C-B7-E7-A7-D7-G7-C.
Mr Sandman=I
bring=VII7
make=III7
I’ve=VI7
give=II7
roses=V7
then tell him= I