key term - Harmonic flowchart for minor keys

Definition

A harmonic flowchart for minor keys is a visual representation that outlines the relationships between chords in a minor key, illustrating how they function within the context of harmony. This tool helps musicians understand how different chords, particularly the tonic, predominant, and dominant functions, can progress to create tension and resolution in a piece. By mapping out these relationships, it becomes easier to compose and analyze music in minor keys.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In minor keys, the harmonic flowchart typically includes i, iv, ii\degree, V, and VII chords as essential components.
2. Predominant functions like ii\degree and iv prepare for the dominant V, creating a natural progression towards resolution.
3. Using a raised seventh scale degree (leading tone) in the harmonic minor scale enhances the pull to the dominant chord.
4. The viio chord (diminished seventh) can also be used effectively in minor keys as a leading tone to strengthen movement towards tonic.
5. Chords in minor keys can often be interchanged with their relative major counterparts for added harmonic richness.

Review Questions

• How does understanding the harmonic flowchart for minor keys assist in composing music?
  • Understanding the harmonic flowchart for minor keys is crucial for composing because it provides a clear roadmap of how chords relate to one another. By knowing which chords function as tonic, predominant, or dominant, composers can create effective progressions that build tension and resolve it appropriately. This knowledge allows them to manipulate harmonic expectations to evoke specific emotions or atmospheres in their music.
• Compare the role of predominant functions like ii\degree and iv in a harmonic flowchart for minor keys versus major keys.
  • In both minor and major keys, predominant functions like ii and IV serve to prepare the listener for the dominant chord. However, in minor keys, ii is often used as a ii\degree (half-diminished) which creates a unique tension before resolving to the dominant. Additionally, while IV naturally resolves back to the tonic in major keys, its role can slightly differ in minor by introducing more emotional depth and complexity before reaching the dominant.
• Evaluate how the use of leading tones in harmonic progressions affects the overall sound of compositions in minor keys.
  • The use of leading tones significantly impacts compositions in minor keys by creating strong resolutions to the tonic. By raising the seventh degree of the scale, composers enhance the pull towards the dominant chord, making transitions more compelling. This raised seventh not only heightens tension but also enriches the harmonic palette available to composers, allowing them to create more dynamic and expressive musical narratives that engage listeners.

Related terms

Tonic (i): The home chord in a minor key, serving as the point of rest and resolution in harmonic progressions.

Dominant (V): The fifth chord in a minor key, which creates tension that typically resolves back to the tonic.

Subdominant (iv or II): The fourth chord in a minor key, often used to prepare the way for the dominant chord and create harmonic motion.