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The dominant seventh (V7) contains a tritone that resolves by half-step into the tonic triad, creating the strongest cadence

Concept L2First instrument A · Music theory & musicianship

Adding a minor seventh to the dominant triad (chord V) creates the dominant seventh chord (V7). In C major: G7 = G B D F. The defining feature is the tritone between the third (B) and seventh (F) of the chord: B is the leading tone and rises a semitone to C (the tonic); F is the fourth and falls a semitone to E (the third of the tonic). This double resolution, combined with the perfect-fifth root movement G to C, makes V7-I the most powerful harmonic resolution in Western music. V7 is also the primary agent for modulation.

Examples

G7 to C: B rises to C, F falls to E, G moves to C. In A minor: E7-Am (harmonic minor V7).

Assessment

Build the dominant seventh chord for the key of F major. Explain the tritone resolution. Compose a 2-bar dominant seventh to tonic progression.

Prerequisites — understand these first

Don't confuse with

Sources

“main agent for a change of key in a song—calledmodulation. It is important to remember that when you are trying to change key, the target chord is the dominant seventh of the new key, rather than the tonic.”

corpus · michael-hewitt-music-theory-for-computer-musicians · chunk 38

Taught in modules

Functional Progressions, Cadences and Modulation

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