SECONDARY REVIEW AND THE ii CHORD - PART TWO
The three Primary triads - I, IV, V - provide the foundation for structure. The Secondary triads are used as substitutes for primary triads to add tonal variety. Each secondary triad is related to a primary triad through two common tones.
The three Primary triads - I, IV, V - provide the foundation for structure. The Secondary triads are used as substitutes for primary triads to add tonal variety. Each secondary triad is related to a primary triad through two common tones.
The secondary triad iii is midway between the I and the V. The secondary triad vi is midway between the I and the IV. The roots of the secondary triads are an interval of a third below the primary triads.
Roman numerals are used for harmonic analysis. Proper names are used for speaking or writing. Below are the Primary and Secondary triads.
- I Tonic
- ii Supertonic
- iii Mediant
- IV Sub-dominant
- V Dominant
- vi Submediant
- viio Leading Tone
The ii scale degree is called the Supertonic. It is pre-dominant because it leads or progresses towards the dominant (V). The chord map illustrates the progression of the ii towards the dominant.