2 The supertonic chord (II) + At Grade 4, we explored primary chords chords bul onthe Ts 4% and Sth degrees of major and minor scales. * The supertonie chord (I) s built on the 2nd degree ofthe scale Vv 7 tonic supertonic subdominant dominant " wv v tonic supertonic subdominant dominant In chord Il of C minor, the top note is an Ab because it is made up of notes from the harmonic minor scale. Exercise 1 Add one note to complete each supertonic chord, Remember! * We use roman numerals — to identity chords. Each chord is built on a degree of the scale, which gives us the ‘number of the chord. * The note that a chord is Fé major built on is called its root ~~ when this note is at the bottom of the chord, itis said to be in root position. 44 | Discovering Music Theory: Grade 5Theory in sound Listen carefully to how they sound Exercise 2 Describe each chord using roman numerals (1,11, 1V or V). * Chords |, IV and V in the major key are major chords, but chord Il is minor. * Chards | and IV in the minor key are minor chords, but chord V is major as it contains the raised leading note. Chord It in minor keys is diminished ~ it contains a diminished Sth between the root and the upper note Play (or ask someone to play to you) chords Il, IV and V in C major and C minor. Ab major Bminor Gminor E major C major Db major b a 2.) 0 SS 6 ay I Diminor Gt minor G major a SI = a a Chapter 6 Chords | 45(am iver) Exercise 3 Describe the two chords in each question using. roman numerals ‘then entity the cadence Smart tip ibe C G Dor F mace ence ah ey fom tbe hey sate - mths ems tw eC {Then work out the two chords by ook a thew oot nates (which ate at oT | Wthe final chords V, the cadence imperfect (=, ti-V or VV) It's the cadenct perfect (V1) or plagal iv-1) Chapter 6 Chorus | 474 @ dences in minor keys ‘we write cadences in minor keys, chord V will contain the raised leading note it Here are examples ofthe thee cadences we have learn, written The raised leading notes Ot E minor Exercise 4 includes cadences in major or minor keys, with upto four sharps or flats in the key signati Exercise 4 Tick onebox toname each cadence. Smart tip tes Start by identifying whether chords are Il, 1V or Vin the given key. Bb major W z i i =e Oo DyExercise 4 Continued Amajor Qu Te 7 we pecect imperfect Challenge! Rewrite Exercise 4 [in D minor. You'll need to change the key signature, and remember thatthe leading note should be raised. Chapter 6: Chords | 497H Ch & : ©osing suitable chords for a melody in the Grade 5 exam you willbe givan a velody and asked to choose suitable chords to erimoniee A. You will nand ta choose from chorde 4, BV 2 Look at this example: ota: acketed notes. The two chords You are being asked to choose one chord for each set of Br hrase. Here is a step-by-step should make a cadence, as they are the last chords in the pl guide to choosing suitable chords: 1. Identify the key. In this example, the key is signature. It is not B minor as the leading note, 2. Work out chords |, II, IV and V in the key- Here they are for D major: D major as there are two sharps in the key ‘A, has not been raised. ' ceva eay 3, Name the notes in the melody. The notes in bar 3 of this melody are C#, D, E and Ct 4, Choose a suitable chord for each box. Compare each chord with the notes of the snelody, The most suitable chord will contain all or most of the notes from the melody. «Inbar 3, the best chord to use is V because it contains two of the notes of the melody: C# and E. ji. Ifyou do the same for the second chord (bar 4), you will find that chord | works be as it contains both the notes D and A. 5, Identify the cadence. Check that the two chords make a perfect, imperfect or plagal cadence. In this case they make a perfect cadence. Smart tip oe ee Very atten you wil fing that not allthe melody notes wit ic 0 - yee tn isthe case find a chord that its the majorly ofthe notes. ‘articularly those that fll on the main beats ofthe Par. 50 | Discovering Music Theory: Grade 5‘ keys bY exercise 5 Indicate suitable chords foreach of th following melodies 9 melee wmriting IV or Vin each box, and then circle the correct cadence smart tip “choose chords that contain the majority of the melody notes within each Bracket «Moke sure thatthe two chords you choose form a perfect, plagal or imperfect cadence Vv v 1 Sa Beh ame (0 imperfect O28 MIE ee Smart tip The final bar in[f only contains one note. Make sure you choose the chord that will Belong to a cadence. Bh Spr 6b ‘— FAC aS ~S&ht Chapter 6: Chords | 51PCO eee Exercise § continued a AG CA wens (my) mot ACE DFA wt BOF EG WW : | afer ~~’ \\ AY io e@ Choosing suitable chords for a minor key melody rors work through an exarl of meld vais ey of]oing ese tps 2 et ‘ | an a | | O UU + dent the ky. From the ey satu we an see thats ether Br mor G mina but the raised leading note (Ff) shows us that it is G minor. 2 Work out chords I, Il, IV and V in the key. Here they are for G minor. Note that chord V has the raised leading note, Fi 3 Name the notes in the melody. b ‘4. Choose a suitable chord foreach box. — ‘The frst chord (bar 2) needs to fit with the notes B,C and G ~ and chord IV fits thebilhere, i. Bar3 contains the notes AG, Ft and D. ‘Allof these except the G can be found in chord V. : i As the irl ba contains only the note, ether chord | or chord IV coud ft However, in order to make a cadence, we have to choose chord | i 5 Identity the cadence. Check that the two chords make a fect, imperfect i ay ao isan ake pre cadence. ee 2 | Dncovering Music Theory: Grade:Smart tip 2 ro + Exercise 6 contains melodies in major and minor keys. Look out for the nel e to identify melodies in minor keys. You could write the key at the start if that + Each melody contains two different cadences. writing, Exercise 6 Indicate suitable chords for each ofthe following melodies by IL IV or V in each box, and then name each cadence. ce 4 ce . a pathor — 7 @iBD ACE one or (7) i hiviv me Cadence t: ce " ns et D Cpdencet B sail Reese Lend FH FAC GBD BDF ce "i Aa — ee pope Chapter 6 Chords | 53Exercise 6 contned 1 A) « a AF OF 4 et —! Le a Qi pre gh ab PES Gy wv cm yoked fieinversions bottom a @ ea gg caesarean enc \ the chord tis said to be in root poston dis called an imeersion = When the lowest note ofthe chord is nt the rat the chord ns Here is chord | in C major, written 25 2 triad in root position. is Here is the same chord, now written in ts ee ‘st inversion. The note € - the 3rd of the triad ~ is now the lowest note. ® Here is the same chord in its 2nd inversion. The note G — the Sth of the triad - is now the lowest note. « We use letters after the chord numbers to indicate inversions: ‘a! for root position ‘for Ist inversion ‘¢ for 2nd inversion You can see that the three chords above are labelled la, tb and le. Theory in sound Play or listen to triads in root position, Ist inversion and 2nd inversion. Can you hear the difference in how they sound? Challenge! Write these chords in their 'st and 2nd inversions: Jee] SSS Chapter 6 Chords | $5pe | Exercise 7 Write bor catter each chord number to show wheter te chord iTS OF 2nd ove, Smart tip {he chords in tol are writen a tris Byki ut fo tetera of me a ani he inversion. if the th is at the top. the 'S.at the bottom it wil be in 2nd inversion (c) perfect 4th. ‘triad wall be in 1st inversion (0). Remember! Inthe case of fur-note chords, one af the notes wil appear twice. ~ You might find it helpful to rewrite the notes in each chord asa triad. | wb ve th ve ibwovBig EGB Gap DIA NCE EAB AcE ADE FAC 56.| Discovering Music Theory: Grade S$ An alternative Way to identify chords and inversions You may find it helpful to write chords and their inversions 2s a grid Here is a grid showing the chords and inversions in D major. { | 2 © © Eachcolumn shows 1 OFA the bottom note of the |NeGe chord in root position (a) | NGBod Ist inversion (b) and | AGE 2nd inversion (c) Smart tip ‘Work out the chord first, and then its inversion. You can write the chords out on a stave or use a ‘grid’ version as shown above. Vb Vb tbh te te IIb Ve Jb Ba ont CE CHF DFA C F minor a DI ib lb Vb Ha Ve lc Ih ta OF Chapter 6: Chords | 57 FAC gen. ° ©chords. > Tick (7) one box for each question to name each of the three marked Smart tip * REst check the key by looking at the key signature and any razed leading rates that Whe indicate the relative minor. The kay is gwen nil and i "Rema TPTng each chor, make sre that al hee notes of tht chord are present ta as ete wil ot bays te he et ofthe chord “In minor key il the raised leading notes nacht wilde hed. 58 | Discovering Music Theory: Grade 5Chapter 6 Chords 1 59 ono ONN oO £2 a 22 e 3 oo ‘J 1S a 2 Ss 2 3 oe (Nt al OB 2‘¢ fae 3 i Hoe No 2 2 24 J 3 ij Hid ij