4.4: Voice Leading with Seventh Chords
Remember those rules of part-writing we need to follow? Introducing seventh chords into the harmonic mix requires us to follow three main rules:
➡️ Chordal sevenths should be approached by common tone OR by step When the voice-leading context doesn’t allow this, chordal sevenths may be approached by ascending leap or, rarely, by a descending leap of a 3rd.
➡️ All chordal sevenths should resolve by a descending step, to avoid an unresolved seventh. The chordal seventh in a V-4/3 chord may move up by a step when appearing in a I-(V-4/3)-I6 progression. In some cases, the chordal seventh may stay in the same voice before resolving down by a step.
➡️ The fifth of a root-position dominant seventh chord may be omitted if it helps the voice leading. When the fifth is taken out in a root position 7th chord, the root should be doubled. All inverted 7th chords, however, must be spelled completely in writing the chord.
🦜 Polly wants a progress tracker: how do you resolve a seventh chord?
ap music theory
🎵 Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements
🎶 Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture
🎻 Unit 3: Music Fundamentals III: Triads and Seventh Chords
🎹 Unit 4: Harmony and Voice Leading I: Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase
🎸 Unit 5: Harmony and Voice Leading II: Chord Progressions and Predominant Function
📝 Exam Skills
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