Subdominant

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Subdominant

In music

Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale

Diatonic scale

In music theory, a diatonic scale is a seven note musical scale comprising five whole steps and two half steps, in which the half steps are maximally separated....
. It is so called because it is the same distance "below" the tonic

Tonic (music)

The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
as the dominant

Dominant (music)

In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the Scale . For example, in the C major scale , the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D....
is above the tonic - in other words, the tonic is the dominant of the subdominant. It is also the note immediately "below" the dominant .

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Encyclopedia

In music

Music

Diatonic scale

Tonic (music)

Dominant (music)

Major scale

In music theory, the major scale or Ionian mode scale is one of the diatonic scale Musical scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher....
(white keys on a piano, starting on C), the subdominant is the note F; and the subdominant chord

Chord (music)

In music and music theory a chord is a set of two or more different note that sound simultaneously. Most often, in European-influenced music, chords are tertian Sonority that can be constructed as stacks of thirds relative to some underlying musical scale....
uses the notes F, A, and C. In music theory

Music theory

Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
, the subdominant chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral IV if it is within the major mode (because it is a major triad

Triad (music)

In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:...
, for example F-A-C in C major) or iv if it is within the minor mode (because it is a minor triad, for example F-A-C in C minor).

A cadential subdominant chord followed by a tonic chord (the chord of the key of the piece) produces the so-called "plagal" (or "Amen") cadence

Cadence (music)

In Classical music musical theory, a harmonic cadence is a chord progression of two chord s that Conclusion a phrase , section , or composition of music....
.

"Subdominant" also refers to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of C major, the key of F major is the subdominant. Music which modulates (changes key) often modulates into the subdominant when the leading tone is lowered by a half step to the subtonic

Subtonic

In music, the subtonic is the lowered seventh degree of the Scale , as opposed to the leading-tone . For example, in the A minor scale , the subtonic is the note G ; and the subtonic chord uses the notes G, B, and D ....
(B to B in the key of C). Modulation into the subdominant key often creates a sense of musical relaxation; as opposed to modulation into dominant

Dominant (music)

In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the Scale . For example, in the C major scale , the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D....
(fifth note of the scale), which increases tension.

In sonata form

Sonata form

Sonata form is a musical form that has been used widely since the early Classical music era. While it is typically used in the first Movement of multimovement pieces, it is sometimes employed in subsequent movements as well....
, the subdominant key plays a subordinate though still crucial role: typically, in the recapitulation

Recapitulation

The word recapitulation can mean:*A summary* Recapitulation , a section of musical sonata form where the exposition is repeated in an altered form and the development is concluded...
, there is a section written in the subdominant key, occurring at the point corresponding to the location in the exposition

Exposition

Exposition may refer to*Exposition , a different type of Dramatic structure#Exposition in which undepicted plots elements are conveyed in dialogue, description, flashback or narrative...
where the music modulated into the dominant key. The use of the subdominant in this location often serves as a way of keeping the rest of recapitulation in the tonic.

The subdominant diatonic function

Diatonic function

A diatonic function, in tonality music theory, is the specific, recognized role of each note and chord in relation to the key .Three general and inseparable essential features of harmonic function in tonal music are:...
acts as a dominant preparation

Dominant preparation

The dominant preparation is a chord or series of chords that precedes the dominant in a musical composition. Usually, the dominant preparation is derived from a circle of fifths progression....
and in theories after Hugo Riemann

Hugo Riemann

Karl Wilhelm Julius Hugo Riemann was a Germany music theory. He should not be confused with the mathematician Bernhard Riemann.Riemann was born at Grossmehlra, near Sondershausen....
is considered to balance the dominant around the tonic.