Workshop 17 mini-test

1. What is E7 in C major?

2. Where does it normally resolve?

3. What altered note creates its directional pull?

4. What is A7 in C major?

5. What is D7 in C major?

6. What four semitone resolutions define the dominant chain E7-A7-D7-G7-C?

7. Why is structural reduction useful?

8. What is the tritone substitute for A7?

9. What is the difference between a diatonic progression and the secondary-dominant version?

10. What is the deepest lesson of this workshop?

Answers

1. V7/vi
2. Am
3. G♯→A
4. V7/ii, resolving to Dm.
5. V7/V, resolving to G/G7.
6. G♯→A, C♯→D, F♯→G, B→C.
7. It reveals the simpler diatonic/function skeleton underneath the chromatic approach chords.
8. E♭7
9. The structural destinations may remain the same, but secondary dominants strengthen each arrival with temporary leading tones and greater harmonic propulsion.
10. Secondary dominants become simple when you stop hearing them as foreign chords and hear the semitone that points to the next destination.

The central lesson of Workshop 17 is:

If you can hear the altered 3rd resolving into the next root, you understand the secondary dominant.