Primary triad - Wikipedia

1 of 2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_triad

Primary triad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In music, a primary triad is one of the three triads, or

three-note chords built from major or minor thirds, most
important in tonal and diatonic music, as opposed to an
auxiliary triad or secondary triad.
Each triad found in a diatonic key corresponds to a particular
diatonic function. Functional harmony tends to rely heavily on
Primary triads in C Play .
the primary triads: triads built on the tonic, subdominant, and
dominant degrees.[1] The roots of these triads begin on the first,
fourth, and fifth degrees (respectively) of the diatonic scale, otherwise symbolized: I, IV, and V
(again, respectively). Primary triads, "express function clearly and unambiguously."[1] The other
triads of the diatonic key include the supertonic, mediant, sub-mediant, and leading-tone, whose
roots begin on the second, third, sixth, and seventh degrees (respectively) of the diatonic scale,
otherwise symbolized: ii, iii, vi, and viio (again, respectively). They function as auxiliary or
supportive triads to the primary triads.
In C major these are:
IC
VG
IV F
vi Am
iii Em
ii Dm
viio Bdim

Diatonic functions in hierarchical order in C

In a minor key triads i and iv are minor chords, but in chord V the leading note is generally raised
to form a major chord.[2] For example, in A minor the primary triads are Am, Dm and E. Chord v
(minor) in a minor key may be considered a primary triad, but its use is rare in common practice
harmony.
Auxiliary chords may be considered parallel and contrast chords derived from the primary triads.
For example the supertonic, ii, is the subdominant parallel, relative of IV (in C: a d minor chord is
the subdominant parallel, the subdominant is an F major chord). Being a parallel chord in a major
key it is derived through raising the fifth a major second (C of FAC rises to D FAD, an
inversion of DFA). Alternatively, secondary triads may be considered ii, iii, and vi.[3] In C major
these are:[3]
ii Dm
iii Em

1/18/2017 3:30 PM

Primary triad - Wikipedia

2 of 2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_triad

vi Am
In A minor these are:[3]
iio Bdim
III C
VI F

See also

Subdominant and subdominant

parallel in C major: FM (IV) and
Dm (ii) chords Play .

Subsidiary chord

Sources
1. Harrison, Daniel (1994). Harmonic Function in Chromatic Music: A Renewed Dualist Theory and an
Account of its Precedents, p.45. ISBN 0-226-31808-7. Cited in Deborah Rifkin. "A Theory of Motives
for Prokofiev's Music", p.274, Music Theory Spectrum, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Autumn, 2004), pp. 265-289.
University of California Press on behalf of the Society for Music Theory
2. Eric Taylor (2009). Music Theory in Practice Grade 4, p.22. ISBN 978-1-86096-945-4. ABRSM
3. Lancaster & Renfrow (2008). Alfred's Group Piano for Adults: Student Book 2, p.77. ISBN
0-7390-4925-9.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primary_triad&oldid=677108919"

Categories: Chords
This page was last modified on 21 August 2015, at 05:07.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional
terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.

1/18/2017 3:30 PM