8/9 8. Basic Harmonic Analysis Free Online FlashCards

What is the first step in a basic harmonic analysis?

Establish the key first by examining the key signature, opening and closing sonorities, accidentals, and apparent tonic.

What does a Roman numeral identify?

Roman numerals identify the scale degree on which a chord is built and relate its root to the tonic.

What are the three broad harmonic functions?

Tonic provides stability and tonal focus; predominant moves away from tonic toward dominant; dominant creates instability and directed motion back to tonic.

What is D in C–D–E when C and E are chord tones?

D is a passing tone because it moves stepwise between C and E, which belong to the underlying harmony.

What is F in G–F–G when G is a chord tone?

F is a neighbor tone because the voice leaves G by step and returns to G, the same underlying chord tone.

What nonharmonic tone is held over a new harmony and resolves downward?

It is a suspension: the note is held from the previous harmony, becomes dissonant, and resolves downward by step.

What determines a triad’s inversion?

In a triad, the bass note identifies the inversion: root in the bass is root position, the third is first inversion, and the fifth is second inversion.

What figures identify seventh-chord inversions?

For a seventh chord, the figures are 7 in root position, 6/5 in first inversion, 4/3 in second inversion, and 4/2 or 2 in third inversion.

Why are 5/3 figures usually omitted?

The figures 5/3 are normally omitted because an unfigured Roman numeral already indicates root position.

What conditions define a perfect authentic cadence?

A perfect authentic cadence is V–I with both chords in root position and the tonic in the soprano of the final chord.

What is a half cadence?

A half cadence ends a phrase on V. It sounds unfinished and commonly invites continuation.

What is a deceptive cadence?

A deceptive cadence begins with V but moves somewhere other than I, most commonly to vi in a major key or VI in a minor key.