The /r/musictheory Discord presents:

The 2019 advent calendar

Door 19 - Predominants

In cadences predominant chords usually resolve into the dominant chords.

Several chords can fulfill that function, as we are going to demonstrate on the
soprano clausula:


The Subdominant (IV)

The most common diatonic chord is the IV, the 

subdominant, as it departs from the tonic quite
convincingly with a desc. 5th leap, making the


return from the dominant to the tonic, yet another
desc. 5th very clear.

I IV V I
T S D T

The Supertonic/Subdominant relative (ii)

If we raise the 5 of the Subdominant to its 6, we get a first inversion ii chord. If we
added that 6th instead, the result is a first inversion ii seventh chord, notice how
the bass notes still perform those two descending 5th leaps.
When used in root position, we get two consecutive desc. 5ths. Careful with
voiceleading on the I - ii though, avoid consecutive parallel 5ths.
  
  

  
I ii 6 V I I ii 65 V I I ii 7 V I
T S 6
D T 6 T Sr7 D T
3
T S5 D T

The Neapolitan (  II 6 )

Likewise if we take the minor subdominant iv and  
raise its 5 to a 6 , we get a first inversion  II chord,

the Neapolitan sixth:


I N6 V I
N
T s D T

Secondary dominants (V 7/ V, vii° 7/ V, It 6 , Fr 6 , Ger 6 )

If we alter the bass note of a ii 65 chord, we get a chord that is not longer
subdominant in its function but instead becomes a secondary dominant of the V.
 
  



 
I6 V 65 / V V I I 6 vii 7/ V V I
T D D 7
T T DD
v
D T
3
D
3
3 3

Further alterations on the notes of the upper notes result in diminuished and
augmented dominant chords. Notice the different spelling of the Ger 6 chord as
'Swiss', followed by a cadential 64 suspension to avoid parallel fifths.
    
       




  
I It 6
V I I Fr 6 V I I Ger 6 V I
7 7
T DD D T T DD D T T D D
D v
T
5> 5> 5>

6
Cadential 4 suspension and submediant (I 64 , vi)
A cadential 64 suspension of the V can also be used to signal a cadence.
The submediant or Subdominant counter parallel can be used as predominant
chord, but voiceleading is trickier and less smooth, plus there's more room for
parallel fifth mistakes.
 
  

 
I 6
V 6––5
4––3
I I6 vi V I
T DT D
T T Scp D T
3
3