Triads and key

Table of Contents

Rhythm
Intervals
Key and Scale
Triads and key
Seventh Chords
Non-harm. tones
Roman num/
fig bass 1
Dom-tonic function
Secondary dom
Modulation
Aug 6th Chords
Neap 6th Chords

Section 2:

Borrowed chords
Mediants
Special uses of dim 7
Chromatic non-H tones
Roman num/
figured bass 2

Section 3:

Set theory
Rhythm/ form
12- tone
Polyrhythm
Metric modulation
Meter

Section 4:

Basic Assumptions
Motive, Phrase and Period
Cadence
Binary form
Ternary form
Rounded binary form
Sonata form
Rondo form
Theme and variation
Dance forms

Section 5:

Basic assumptions
and procedures
Harmony
Form and rhythm
Melody
Timbre

Section 6: Bibliography

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Triads and key

Basic Concepts:

1. Triads in tonal music are defined as three-note chords that have a root pitch, a third above the root, and a fifth above the root.

2. The four qualities of triads are major, minor, augmented, and diminished. Notice the interval components of each triad in the example below.

3. Triads can be inverted two ways: first inversion has the third as the lowest note, second inversion has the fifth as the lowest note. Root position has the root as the lowest note and is not an inversion.

4. Triads fall into keys according to the scale degree upon which they are built. Therefore, there is a tonic triad, and dominant triad, etc.

5. The primary triads in a key are the tonic, subdominant, and dominant triads, also known as I, IV, and V respectively (in a major key, i, iv, and V in a minor key). The other triads are considered secondary.