Sub-dominant

In the tonal music, the sub-dominant indicates the fourth degree of a range.

  • Whatever the mode - major range or minor range - this degree is always located a perfect fourth above the principal degree, the tonic , that is to say, a perfect fifth below, in accordance with the rule of the inversions.

For example, the note F is the sub-dominant of the ranges of major C and C minor .

  • In traditional harmony, the sub-dominant is one of the three “degrees principal” - or “better degrees” - tonality, the two others being: the tonic and the Dominant .

the sub-dominant being located a perfect fifth below tonic, and the dominant one, a perfect fifth above , one can regard these two degrees as symmetrical compared to the tonic, and forming with it a chain of perfect fifths , which one naturally finds in the famous Cycle of the fifths: - sub-dominant * perfect fifth * tonic * perfect fifth * dominant.

  • This degree fulfills the “tonal function of sub-dominant”, which consists to produce or precede the agreement by dominant by the tonality. In the tonal System, the agreement builds on this IVe degree - known as “agreement of sub-dominant” - plays a big role in the rates and the modulations.

See too

Internal bonds

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