Extended Dominant Chords
Extended Dominants (V9, V11, V13) The dominant chord can be extended further than the usual addition of a 7th (V7). By continuing to add the note a third higher each …
Identifying Chords (ABRSM Grade 7)
Although most chords that you are asked to find at Grade 7 are dominant 7ths, diminished 7ths or Neapolitan 6ths, any other “normal” chord could also come up, including added …
The Neapolitan 6th
One of the most commonly-used chromatic chords in the Classical period (and beyond) is the Neapolitan 6th chord, or “N6”. This is a major chord, built from the flattened supertonic …
Secondary 7ths
The chords ii7 and vii°7 are in a group of chords called secondary 7ths. A secondary 7th is an added 7th chord built on any degree of the scale except …
Chord vii°7 (Diminished 7th)
Chord vii°7 Chord vii°7 is a diminished 7th chord. It is built from the diminished triad on the 7th degree of the scale, plus another third added on top: the …
Chords and Key in a Score
Chords in Orchestral Scores In the ABRSM Grade 6 music theory exam you will be probably be asked to identify one or more chords in a score. For this grade, …
Q1a | Chords to Accompany a Melody
Writing Chords to Accompany a Melody The first question in the ABRSM grade 6 theory paper asks you to provide a chord progression for a given melody. You are given …
Chord Inversions in Music
You should already have a basic understanding of chord inversions (root position, first inversion and second inversion). For a reminder, see Chord Inversions. In this lesson we’ll learn a little …
Tierce de Picardie
Pieces of music composed in a minor key sometimes end on a major tonic chord, and this was particularly common in the Baroque era (c. 1600-1750). A major chord used …
Chord IV (Major Subdominant; Melodic Minor)
Although in minor keys we usually use the notes from the harmonic minor scale to build the subdominant chord, it’s also possible to build a different chord, using the notes …