Understanding Chord Functions to Create Development
This time, we go into even more important knowledge about how to use the major diatonic chords we have learned so far to create "development" and songs with a "sense of story."
First, as a sample, please listen to the following audio.
I arranged the major diatonic chords of a particular key without thinking at all, and it somehow feels unsettled.
In fact, each of the diatonic chords has a "function".
So if you simply arrange them without considering their functions, the progression may sound like it is going around in circles, or its "introduction, development, twist and conclusion" may become unclear and hard to listen to.
The Primary Chords
As a first step this time, let's get a grip on the three most important chords: the primary chords.
First, recall the scale degree names we learned last time.
This time too, we'll use the simple key of C as a sample.
Among these,
- Tonic
- Subdominant
- Dominant
these terms appeared.
These three terms carry a very important meaning in chord progressions.
Keep that in mind as you continue.
Next, stack notes on the C major scale to build the C major diatonic chords.
If you don't know how, please refer to the previous articles.
- Triads
- Four-note chords
Here too, focus on the chords built on the "Tonic," "Subdominant" and "Dominant."
These are called the primary chords.
These three also have the following functions, abbreviated by their initials.
The names stay the same.
- Tonic (chord) = T
- Subdominant (chord) = SD (sometimes simply written "S")
- Dominant (chord) = D
In fact, other chords can also have functions similar to these, but the importance of the primary chords surpasses the others.
In that sense, you could call them "the true T, SD and D."
We'll cover the details from next time on, but for now just keep in mind that the primary chords are only the chords (triads and four-note chords) whose roots are I, IV and V on the scale.
Chord Functions Change Depending on the Key
Finally, here's a point beginners often get wrong.
It is that a function belongs not to the chord itself, but to its position in each key (the scale degree number).
Using the same image as last time, let's focus on the note "C."
In the C major scale, "C" is first from the left.
The diatonic chord built from it is,
of course, "I" at the far left.
In other words, it is built on the tonic, so it is the tonic (chord).
In the G major scale, on the other hand,
"C" is in the fourth position.
The diatonic chord built from it
is in the "IV" position, so it is the subdominant.
In this way, even the same chord has a different function depending on the key.
That's all for this time.
The content has been somewhat preliminary, but next time we'll dig into the meaning of each function while checking it by ear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why does simply arranging diatonic chords make a progression hard to listen to?
Diatonic chords have "functions," and if you arrange them ignoring these, the introduction, development, twist and conclusion become unclear, giving the impression of going around in circles. Arranging chords with an understanding of their functions is important.
Q2. Specifically, which chords are the primary chords?
In the key of C major, the primary chords are C on I (tonic), F on IV (subdominant) and G on V (dominant). They refer to the triads or four-note chords built on degrees I, IV and V of the scale.
Q3. What does it mean that the same chord's function changes in a different key?
It means that a function belongs not to the chord itself but is determined by its position within the scale of each key. For example, the C chord is I (tonic) in C major, but functions as iv (subdominant) in G major.
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