Harmonic Progressions AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni

Harmonic Progressions Chord Leads to I/i Any other chord ii/iio V/v, viio iii/III* ii, V, VII IV/iv I/i, ii/iio, V/v, viio V/v I/i, vi/VI vi/VI ii/iio, IV/iv, V/v viio/VII I/I, iii/III* *The mediant chord (iii) is trick to use because it is such a chameleon. The iii/III chord will not be used in the part-writing or harmonic dictation segments of the AP Music Theory Exam.

Common Harmonic Progressions

Circle of Fifths Progression The movement of chords where the root of each chord is a diatonic fifth above the next chord. Major: I – IV – viio – iii – vi – ii – V – I Minor: i – iv – viio(or VII) – III – VI – iio – V – I Does not always appear in its entirety…ii – V – I or ii6 – V – I are very common

Progression in Thirds The root of each chord is either up or down a third. Major: I – vi – IV – ii – V or viio6 – I Minor: i – VI – iv – iio – V or viio6/VII – i

Progression in Seconds The root of each chord is either up or down a second or scale tone. Major: I – IV – V – I Minor: i – VI – iv6 – V

viio chord The viio is most commonly used in first inversion (viio6) For the AP test, it will always be used and appear in first inversion In part writing, double the third of the chord because doubling the root would be doubling the leading tone

First Inversion Used to make smoother bass lines Used to prolong tonic I – I6 or I – V6 – I Used as a neighboring tone in the bass

Second Inversion Used ONLY in these four ways Passing may go up or down and may also be a 7th chord

Retrogression Moving backwards from Dominant functions to Subdominant functions Moving backwards in Roman numerals for the most part (vi – V is okay, iii – ii is okay) Do NOT follow V with IV, ii6, or ii65 Do NOT follow vi (VI) with I (i) Do NOT follow ii with IV

Harmonic Rhythm The rate at which harmony changes For part writing, you decide how fast the harmonies change There is nothing wrong with slow harmonic rhythm