Diatonic chords are the chords that naturally occur within a given key. They are built using only the notes from that key's major or minor scale.
Think of diatonic chords as the ingredients in a recipe. Just like you use specific ingredients to make a dish, diatonic chords are the specific chords used to create music in a particular key.
Supertonic: The supertonic refers to the second degree of a major or minor scale. It is often used as a chord within diatonic progressions.
Subdominant: The subdominant refers to the fourth degree of a major or minor scale. It is commonly used as a chord within diatonic progressions.
Dominant: The dominant is the fifth degree of a major or minor scale and plays an important role in creating tension and resolving it within diatonic progressions.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.