|
Now that I'm back from my long layoff we can resume or lesson.
So, if you need no review of what we went over I'd like for us to continue on with The Dominant 7th chord (V7).
The Dominant 7th chord is very easy to understand. The chord is built on the Dominant degree of the scale (V) and is there for a Major chord. The added ingredient is a minor 7th. Therefore in the key of C Major the Dominant 7th chord is spelled: G-B-D-F. "F" is a mionr 7th away from the root of the chord "G". So the dominant 6th can be described as a Major chord with a minor 7th added. The chord is a very unstable sound to the ears and has a sense that it needs resolution. There are a few reasonson that cause this sensation to the ears. You have the tritone interval between the 3rd of the chord and the 7th, or in this case the notes "B" and "F". So the occurance of the tritone to the ears calls for resolution. Therefore have the sense that 3rd of this chord (the leading tone), in this case the note "B" wanting to resolve up to the tonic while the 7th of the chord which would be the 4th scale degree has a strong desire to resolve down by half step. Keep in mind that this resolution is a traditional resolution and of course not the only option or occurance.
I have included an attachment of the Dominant 7th and its resolution for you to see.
Let me know if you have any questions before we continue.
|