Dominant Seventh Chord - Voice Leading

Voice Leading

Dominant seventh chord on C, played on guitar in open position Play and as a barre chord Play.

For common practice voice leading, or "strict resolution" of the dominant seventh chord:

  • In the V7-I resolution, the dominant, leading note, and supertonic resolve to the tonic, whereas the subdominant resolves to the mediant.
  • In the other resolutions, the dominant remains stationary, the leading note and supertonic resolve to the tonic, and the subdominant resolves to the mediant.
  • All four tones may be present, though the root may be doubled and the fifth omitted.
  • The d5 resolves inwards and the A4 resolves outwards, meaning that the seventh resolves stepwise downwards while the third resolves (stepwise upwards) to the tonic though in such cases the root of the tonic chord may need to be tripled.
  • The root of the V7, when in the bass, resolves to the root of the I, in the bass.
  • In an incomplete V7, with a missing fifth, the doubled root remains stationary.
  • The "free resolution of the seventh" features the seventh in an inner voice moving stepwise upwards to the fifth of I

Read more about this topic:  Dominant Seventh Chord

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