3.7The problem with the natural-minor dominant

Play:

Em → Am

Notes:

Em:

E G B

Am:

A C E

Now compare:

E7 → Am

E7:

E G♯ B D

Am:

A C E

Which one sounds like a stronger arrival?

Usually:

E7 → Am

Much stronger.

Why?

Because:

G♯ → A

is a half-step resolution.

G♯ is the leading tone to A.

But A natural minor has G natural, not G♯.

So tonal harmony often changes the 7th degree.

This gives us harmonic minor.