Leading Tone Chords

 

Lesson 21

September 24th, 2021

Lesson 21

Lecture notes:
  • The 7th chord leading tones include the viio triad, viio6 triad (first inversion), viiø7 chord, and viio7 chord. (o = diminished, ø = half-diminished)
  • The 7th-degree chords mentioned above are dominant-function chords built on top of the leading tone in the respective key you are in.
  • The 7th chords are weaker in their harmonic function and serve as substitutes for the V and V7 chords.
  • The 5th chord and 7th chords share the 7th, 2nd, and 4th degrees of the respective scale that they belong to. For example, in C major, the 5th degree is G, and the notes for that chord are G, B, D, F. The 7th degree is B, and the notes for that chord are B, D, F, A.
  • Leading tone chords also expand the tonic area at the beginning or middle of a phrase, just like a V chord.
  • The tendency tones shared by the V7 and viio6 resolve in a stepwise motion to the tonic. The 7th resolves up to 1, the 2nd resolves down to 1 or up to 3 (both if the 2nd is doubled), and the 4th resolves down to 3 or up to 5 (both if the 4th is doubled).
  • When leading tone chords are in a minor key, you must remember to raise the 7th-degree leading tone note so that the chord can maintain a dominant function.
Review Questions
  1. The tritone of a diminished fifth usually resolves inward. True / False
  2. The tritone of an augmented fourth usually resolves inward. True / False
  3. The 7th-degree chords do not function as dominant-function chords. True / False
  4. 7th chords are weaker in their harmonic function than V/V7 chords. True / False
  5. What scale degrees do the 5th and 7th chords share? a. 1, 3, 5 b. 2, 4, 7 c. 3, 5, 6
  6. You should always double the leading tone. True / False
  7. What note needs to be raised in 7th chords in a minor key? a. Leading tone b. augmented 4th c. diminished 5th d. perfect 5th e. chordal 7th


The photo above shows the viio6 resolving to a major I (tonic) and minor inverted i6 (tonic). It also shows a viiø7 resolving to a major I (tonic) and a viio7 resolving to the minor i (tonic). (Photo Credit: Timothy Michael Rolls, http://timothymichaelrolls.com/ltchords.html)


The photo above shows how the tendency notes resolve to the tonic in multiple variations of the leading tone chords. (Photo Credit: Nancy Scoggin, http://apassionformusictheory.blogspot.com/2015/03/leading-tone-seventh-chords.html)


The video above explains what leading-tone seventh chords are and how they function. There were also audible demonstrations with the use of a piano. (Video Credit: Brent Yorgason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUyJd7N9cHc)


The video above explains what leading-tone seventh chords are and how to construct them. The presenter used the key of C major and A minor to illustrate how the leading tone chords can resolve the tonic chord in different inversions. His demonstration was done with a digital writing board. There weren't any audible accompaniments with this demonstration. (Video Credit: 5minutemusictheory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbraQs6T7d4)

The photo above consists of seventh chords in three keys, including C major, Bb major, and G major.


The above video is me playing the series of seventh chords from the picture above.

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