What is a Secondary Dominant? - Music Theory

Find out what makes a secondary dominant and how best to use them. A secondary dominant is a way of adding a touch of harmonic colour to a piece of music. It occurs when a V-l progression occurs in a key other than the prevailing key. This music theory lesson explains the rules of engagement and demonstrates how to use a secondary dominant within a phrase. It’s a most effective device used in many different musical styles.

🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to secondary dominant chords
1:28 - What does a secondary dominant sound like?
2:06 - How do secondary dominants work?
3:47 - What are the possibilities for secondary dominants in a piece?

🎓 Learn Music Online with Music Matters
Learn music theory, aural tests, composition, sight reading, orchestration and more! Prepare and practice for music exams and diplomas with Music Matters Courses. Whether you're just getting started with learning music, or you're an experienced musician looking to expand your abilities - we have something for you in our course library. With hours of step-by-step training, our courses will truly help you elevate your musicianship skills to the next level.

👥 Social Media

🔗 Affiliate Links

#MusicTheory #MusicMattersHarmony #TheAllRoundMusician

[MusicMattersGB]

Learn Music Online - Check out our courses here!

[afkmike]

I'm always amazed at how you make seemingly complicated concepts seem so simple. Thank you

[ScreaminVengeance]

Been struggling with this concept for a while now in my music theory class; glad to have some clarity shed upon this topic! Much appreciated, thank you!!

[koensegers]

Just want to say that your videos have it all. Clear audio, timestamps, not a long intro, easy to understand explanations, ... But most of all, they make me want to delve deeper into music theory. Thank you very much for this great video.

[setalaka]

all other videos regarding secondary dominants have comments saying it's too hard to understand. but look at your video, everyone says that it's easy to understand. Wonderful job!

[ayushmanthapa_onion]

your lessons are very easy to understand even for someone like me who's not well endowed in music theory. Liked and subbed :D

[IvyWillowMusic]

I know it doesn't work for this video because it's not a secondary dominant, but the 5 to 1 being repeated a whole step down on E sounded so good! You've given me ideas to mess around with, thank you!

[Hans_Magnusson]

I really like this explanation. The secondary dominant put in context.
It makes it easy to understand as you can both see how it fits in, at the same time listening to it.
And it’s to the point. No bla bla

Great 👍

[ComposerRocks]

I think of secondary dominants like this:

In a chord progression where a chromatic chord would add some welcome color from the diatonic chords of the scale, select any degree of the scale, other than the tonic, to which you want to go ("target chord"); but instead of going to the target chord immediately, go to its V7 chord first and THEN to the target chord.

So, in key of C Maj, instead of, say, I - IV - vi - V - I (C - F - Am - G - C), where Am is the target chord in the progression, try I - IV - III7 - vi - I (C - F - E7 - Am - G - C) .

[pulserato]

I have a sense this channel will help a lot through my struggles in college music theory. Great video!

[franaddeo]

Thank you so much. You are a great teacher. Glad I found your channel. You make difficult concepts easy to understand. Great video.

[skaneverdies]

Just a quick thank you for producing lessons without filler and flash.

[Oaktreealley]

i couldn't figure this out in my theory class. You did a good job making it more simple to understand. Now i get it.

[janalynch]

i mistakenly threw myself into ap music theory as a sophomore and i've always been a bit lost, but now with online school due to quarantine i don't have other students to work with and figure out how they did it. this is MUCH easier to understand than the book my teacher left us with. thank you so much!

[bettyennin]

Thank you for the thorough explanations

[Rynaylorguitar]

Really helpful lesson, confirmed what I thought. Subbed!

[matthewmiguel]

This is a big help for my music theory class. Loved your teaching methods.

[billrootes-composersongwri]

Love your work! Thanks for all the guidance through the study years :)

[mohammedabubakar]

Beautiful video. Thank you for this. Been struggling to understand this concept

[donnat.]

Thank you and your simple teaching on this hard topic. It really helps!