6/9 6. Harmony and Chord Progressions Free Online FlashCards

What is harmony?

Harmony is the combination and succession of chords.

How is the tonic chord identified?

The tonic chord is built on scale degree 1 and written I in major or i in minor; it provides stability and tonal center.

Which chords commonly prolong tonic harmony?

The chords vi and iii can extend or decorate tonic harmony because they share notes with the tonic triad.

Which chords have predominant function?

The principal diatonic predominants are IV or iv and ii in major or ii° in minor.

Why is ii⁶ an especially strong predominant?

In C major, ii⁶ is D minor with F in the bass. It commonly moves to V because the bass rises from scale degree 4 to 5.

How do tendency tones support V⁷–I?

The leading tone usually resolves upward to scale degree 1, while the seventh of V⁷, scale degree 4, commonly resolves downward to scale degree 3.

Why is scale degree 7 raised in a minor-key dominant?

In minor, scale degree 7 is commonly raised to create a leading tone; in A minor, this produces E–G♯–B for V.

What progression uses extended circle-of-fifths motion?

The progression is I–vi–ii–V–I. In C major, it is C–Am–Dm–G–C, with roots descending by fifth or ascending by fourth.

How does I–V–vi–IV differ from a classical cadential progression?

I–V–vi–IV often avoids a final V–I resolution and may repeat continuously, so its interpretation depends on style, melody, bass, and phrase structure.

What distinguishes a perfect authentic cadence?

An authentic cadence is V–I or V⁷–I. A perfect authentic cadence generally has both chords in root position and scale degree 1 in the final soprano.

What is a half cadence?

A half cadence ends on V, creating an open or incomplete effect, regardless of the preceding chord.

What is a plagal cadence?

A plagal cadence is IV–I or iv–i. It usually sounds gentler and less conclusive than V–I because it lacks dominant leading-tone tension.