8. Secondary Dominants started around the 1600 or the Baroque era of music (1600-1760).
It means to place the V7 or dominant seventh chord before a chord in the family of major chords.
See here:
C major family of chords:
C or C maj7, Dm or Dm7, Em or Em7, F maj or F maj7, Gmaj or G7, Am or Am7, Bo or Bm7b5.
Now put a dominant before each chord in the family of chords:
G7, C maj - A7, Dm - B7, Em - C7, F maj - D7, G maj - E7, Am - (rare F7 or F#7, Bo).
The V or V7 temporarily tonicize the following chord. So when A7 is placed before
Dm we temporarily go into D minor.
Play the following examples:
C maj //// Bo //// A7 //// Dm //// F maj //// C maj ////
(A7 replaces the A minor or A minor seventh - temporarily in D minor)
C maj //// B7 //// Em //// F maj //// Am //// G maj ////
(B7 replaces the B diminshed or B minor seventh flat fifth - temporarily in E minor)
G maj //// Am //// C7 //// F maj //// Dm //// G7 //// C maj ////
(C7 replaces the C major or C major seventh chord - temporarily in F major)
Em //// Am //// D7 //// G maj //// C maj /// F maj //// G7 //// C maj ////
(D7 replaces the D minor or D minor seventh chord - temporarily in G major)
F maj //// E7 //// Am //// G maj //// F maj //// C maj /// G //// C ////
(E7 replaces the E minor or E minor seventh chord - temporarily in A minor)
The F7 or F#7 to the B diminished or B minor seventh flat fifth is rarely done.
So record the above examples and then play the Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales behind the chords. Remember to return to the major key after the two chords are over.
Also the C7 (I7), D7 (II7), E7 (III7) are used in minor keys also.
Play and record the following examples and do the same as previous:
C maj //// C7 //// Fm //// G7 //// C maj ////
Am //// D7 //// Gm //// C maj ////
C maj //// E7 //// Am //// F maj ////
Another common technique with secondary dominants is to use them in a row this is called "Chained Secondary Dominant Cycle" see example below:
C maj //// F7 //// Bb7 //// Eb7 //// Ab7 //// Db7 //// F#7 //// B7 //// E7 //// Am ////
For a differant color a Secondary Dominant is sometimes preceded by its ii chord:
C maj //// Cm7 //// F7 //// Fm7 //// Bb7 //// Bbm7 //// Eb7 //// Ebm7 //// Ab7 //// Abm7 ////
Db7 //// Dbm7 //// F#7 //// F#m7 //// B7 //// Bm7 //// E7 //// Am ////
Now transpose these to each position (register) of your instrument, then to all 15 keys.
All materials copyright 2010. For personal use only.
Vince Lauria Sun and Earth Music
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