Dominant Chords

Dominant Chords

Dominant Chords are chords of tension, with resolution tendencies to tonic chords.
In contemporary harmony, dominant is one of three functional harmony categories.

Functional Harmony
Tonic chords of rest or resolution	Sub-Dominant chords of movement	Dominant

Dominant chords use the seventh scale-degree (ti), known as the leading tone, in their construction. Dominant chords also usually contain, and must support, the sub-dominant note (fa), scale-degree four. Scale-degree one (do), the tonic note, cannot be a chord-tone or tension (melody note). The tendency to resolve to this note is created by its lack.

Primary Diatonic Dominant

V⁷
G⁷

Substitute Dominant Chords
[ tritone substitution / SUB V ]

subV⁷
Db⁷

Ascending Approach Diminished

VII^o7
B^o7