subdominant
Below the fifth
In music theory, the subdominant is the fourth note of a scale or the chord built on that note—so in C major, F is the subdominant.
The term reflects its position one step below the dominant (the fifth).
The subdominant chord creates a characteristic pull away from the tonic, often appearing in the IV-V-I progression that defines Western harmony: The hymn moved from tonic to subdominant before resolving.
Invigorating medicinal drink
- mediantScale's third tone
- fourthOrdinal for position four
- fifthFive's place in sequence
- rootUnderground absorbing structure
interval · octave · diatonic · chromatic · major · minor · key · pitch
Group of three
- inversionReversal of position
- seventhOrdinal for seven
- ninthOrdinal of nine
- arpeggioSuccessive chord tones
neapolitan · augmented · diminished · suspended · voicing · progression · cadence · secondary
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- tensionStretched or strained state
- releaseTo let go
counterpoint · modulation · transposition · polyphony · homophony · progression · functional · prolongation
Arch's central locking stone
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- nicheRecessed wall space
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
community · ecosystem · population · trophic · succession · coexistence · inferior · rank
tonic
Invigorating medicinal drink
root · interval · octave · diatonic · chromatic · major · minor · key · pitch · degree
triad
Group of three
arpeggio · neapolitan · augmented · diminished · suspended · voicing · progression · cadence · secondary · applied
cadence
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- tensionStretched or strained state
release · counterpoint · modulation · transposition · polyphony · homophony · progression · functional · prolongation
keystone
Arch's central locking stone
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- nicheRecessed wall space
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
species · community · ecosystem · population · trophic · succession · coexistence · inferior · rank · territory
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
- music theorynote, notes, chord, chords, harmony
- F minorkey signature, harmonic minor, tonic, leading tone
- scale degreestonic, mediant, leading tone, first degree, second degree
- musical notesA, B, C, D, E
subdominantdominant
Having superior influence
tonic · leading tone · fifth · root · first degree
subdominantdominant
Having superior influence
primary · supreme · predominant · superordinate · leading
domain, dominant, dominate, dominance, dominion, domination, predominant, indomitable, predominantly