MUS 112

Determining Secondary Dominant Chords

To determine Roman numeral analysis symbol:

Accidentals!!!
A major triad or major-minor 7th chord that is not diatonic to the key First, determine root of chord (not necessarily bass note) Go down at P5 from root to determine tonicized scale degree/chord Chord is either a V/? or V7/? of that scale degree
... piece of cake
To confirm:
Next chord (tonicized chord) is normally built on that scale degree

Formula: Sec. Dom. Chord minus P5 = V(7) / Scale Degree

Examples:

Key: D major

B, D#, F# chord appears. D# accidental (not diatonic to D maj.) indicates secondary dominant triad.

Root of chord is B.

Go down P5 below B to determine tonicized scale degree/chord, which is E. E is second scale degree.

Analysis: B, D#, F# = V/ii. (Following chord would normally be ii ... E minor chord.)

Key: Eb major

B, G, F, D chord appears. B-natural (not diatonic to Eb maj.) indicates secondary dominant chord.

Root of chord is G (G, B, D, F)--a V7 chord. (Chord appears in first inversion.)

Go down a P5 below G to determine tonicized scale degree/chord, which is C. C is the sixth scale degree.

Analysis: B, G, F, D = V65/vi. (Following chord would normally be vi ... C minor chord.) [Re chord analysis symbol ... the "6" should be a superscript over the subscript "5." Not an easy thing to do here on el webbo.]

Key: D minor

B, E, G# chord appears. B-natural and G# (not diatonic to D min.) indicate secondary dominant triad.

Root of chord is E. (Chord appears in second inversion.)

Go down a P5 below E to determine tonicized scale degree/chord, which is A. A is fifth scale degree.

Analysis: B, E, G# = V64/V. (Following chord would normally be V ... A major.) [Re chord analysis symbol ... the "6" should be a superscript over the subscript "4."]

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