Fernando G asked 9 years ago
Hello,
I’ve been hearing a lot in your videos the phrase “staying on the dominant” / “staying on the subdominant”. Could you please clarify the concept? As I understand it, it would be to use chord progressions that are dominant (V and vii°) or subdominant (ii, IV), respectively. If this is right, what I don’t get is how to achieve this, for example should I go from IV to ii and then back to IV, or should I modulate to a subdominant key (thus, say, making IV the home key)? Or what am I missing?
Thanks in advance!!!
Jon Brantingham Staff answered 9 years ago
Generally, if I am saying “Stay on the dominant” I am referring to prolongation progressions. For instance, you may have a progression that is “Dominant” focused, but still goes back to I occasionally. You often see this in conjunction with pedal tones.
As long as it ultimately circles back to the dominant, and that is clearly the tonal region being explored. In this case you are not modulating, and you wouldn’t tonicize V.
The same goes with subdominant. Regardless of the harmony being prolonged, you generally want to keep coming back to it.
Fernando G
replied 9 years ago Thank you again for your explanation, I think I got it now. Best regards.
Fernando G
replied 9 years ago Thank you again for your explanation, I think I got it now. Best regards.