Linear Chromatic ChordsChapter V.2

Let’s look at the chord on the word “Cross”

What notes do you see? What chord does that make it?

The chord is… D#, F#, A, C

That makes it a viio7 in e minor, right?

If not, then it must be an enharmonic spelling of that chord, which could be viio7 in E G Bb C#

How does the chord resolve?

The chord goes to a C chord This is not the right resolution for any enharmonic spelling.

Now the learning can begin…

Harmony vs. Voice Leading Most chords arise harmonically.

Tonic, Dominant, Pre-Dominant, etc. These are examples of harmonically-functioning chords

Other chords arise through voice leading That means that the voices move however they move, and we get a chord. This music is conceived more horizontally than vertically. It’s contrapuntal The music of Palestrina is a good example. You can some chords, but he wasn’t

thinking chordally.

This chord moves step-wise, indicating more voice-leading than harmony.

This is a linear chromatic chord: The common tone diminished seventh.

Note how this is spelled, doubled, and how it moves

Common Tone Diminished 7th

Connects two other chords linearly These are often the same two chords (I-CTo7-I), but don’t have to be

The CT chord spells a diminished 7th, but doesn’t resolve like one That’s why it gets the label CT instead of vii

Writing the CTo7 when going from and to the same chords On the beginning and ending chords, double the 5th

One fifth goes up by whole step

One fifth goes down by half step

The third goes down by half step

The bass note stays the same That’s why it’s called a common tone chord

Doubled 5th, moving by half and whole step. The word “of” is just switching voices

CT+6 We can also make these chords Augmented 6th chords

For the doubled 5th that goes up, make it move by a half step instead of a whole step. This will automatically make it an Aug6 (maybe a diminished 3rd)

Everything is the same, but we have a slightly different color

CT chords as passing chords As indicated in your chapter, these chords can also serve as passing chords.

In this case, the chords don’t go back to their original chord

There are not as specific part-writing rules for these because they chords they connect can all be different.