Lesson Contents:

• Sound Classifications for Diatonic Chords in a Major Key:
  • tonic (I, iii- vi-)
  • subdominant (ii-, IV)
  • dominant (V, vii°)
• chord substitutions

Diatonic chords have names based on the location of their roots within a scale. The I ("one") chord is called the tonic; the V ("five") chord is called the dominant; and the IV ("four") chord is called the subdominant.

All diatonic chords in a major key can be categorized as sounding or functioning in one of these three categories. That is, chords in the same sound category can be interchanged to create reharmonizations. The reason for this is because similar sounding chords have many common chord tones. For instance, instead of playing a I chord in a song, try playing a iii- or vi- chord. Consult the following diagram.

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