dominant
dominant.
1. 5th degree of major or minor scale, thus if the key is B (major or minor) the dominant is F♯. Chords built on this note are dominant chords, the most important being the dominant seventh which is a chord consisting of the common chord of the dominant with the minor 7th from its root added, e.g. in key C it is G–B–D–F. Like all intervals of a 7th, the dominant 7th is a discord. It normally resolves on the tonic or submediant chord, the note constituting the 7th falling a semitone, allowing the 3rd (i.e. the leading note of the scale) to rise to the tonic. More rarely the 7th can remain as a note common to the following chord, usually the 1st or 2nd inversion of the subdominant. The three inversions of the dominant seventh chord are, of course, in common use.
2. See modes.
1. 5th degree of major or minor scale, thus if the key is B (major or minor) the dominant is F♯. Chords built on this note are dominant chords, the most important being the dominant seventh which is a chord consisting of the common chord of the dominant with the minor 7th from its root added, e.g. in key C it is G–B–D–F. Like all intervals of a 7th, the dominant 7th is a discord. It normally resolves on the tonic or submediant chord, the note constituting the 7th falling a semitone, allowing the 3rd (i.e. the leading note of the scale) to rise to the tonic. More rarely the 7th can remain as a note common to the following chord, usually the 1st or 2nd inversion of the subdominant. The three inversions of the dominant seventh chord are, of course, in common use.
2. See modes.
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dominant