Leading Tone Seventh Chord

Laszlo Cser; Daniel Wanner

14 Leading Tone Seventh Chord

The leading tone seventh chord has two versions: the diminished seventh in minor keys (vii^o7) and the half diminished seventh in major keys (vii^ø7).

The diminished seventh in minor keys (vii^o7)

The half diminished seventh in major keys (vii^ø7)

The leading tone seventh chord is part of the dominant chord family and normally resolves to the tonic.

Note the functional similarities of the dominant chord family members:

r

t

s

f

r

t

s

f

r

t

l

f

r

t

le

f

r

t

V

V⁷

vii^o

vii^ø7in major

vii^o7in minor

RESOLUTIONS

All the tendency tones resolve similarly as with the V or V⁷ chord moving to the tonic:

The leading tone (ti) resolves up by step to do
The dissonant fifth (fa) resolves down by step to m(e)
The dissonant seventh (la/le) resolves down by step to so
The third of the chord (re) is not a tendency tone and can move up or down to either m(e) or do

Voice Leading

A. leading tone seventh chord moving to the tonic

ROOT POSITION

vii^o7 and vii^ø7resolve to a root position tonic chord.

Minor

Major

Voice leading considerations in major

In major keys, the vii^ø7 chord requires special attention because the resulting la – re, so – do movement produces parallel P5^ths.
To avoid the parallel P5^ths, re moves up to double mi.
Another solution is to move la – so first to create a dominant seventh chord inversion, and then resolve to I. The vii^o7 and vii^ø7 chords are often attached to the V⁷ this way to prolong and embellish the dominant. Only one voice moves (la/le – so) and the two chords form a dominant group (see Section B).

FIRST INVERSION

vii^o $^6_5$ and vii^ø $^6_5$ resolve to either a root position or first inversion tonic chord.

Minor

Major

SECOND INVERSION

vii^o $^4_3$ and vii^ø $^4_3$ resolve to a first inversion tonic chord.

Minor

Major

THIRD INVERSION

vii^o2 and vii^ø2typically resolve to V⁷before moving to the tonic. (See Section B.)

B. leading tone seventh chord to V⁷ before moving to the tonic

Resolutions of the vii^o7 and vii^ø7 chords to V⁷, creating a dominant group.

ROOT POSITION

FIRST INVERSION

SECOND INVERSION

THIRD INVERSION

Seventh chords: figured bass in minor

Practice 1

Name and spell any leading tone seventh chord in root position and any inversion, in all major and harmonic minor keys.

Example 1: What is the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major?

Answer: The 7th note of B $\musFlat{}$ major is A. The vii^ø7 chord in major keys is a half diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major (Bb: vii^ø7) is Am7( $\musFlat{}$ 5).

Example 2: What is the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor?

Answer: The 7th note of E minor is D $\musSharp{}$ . The vii^o $^6_5$ chord in minor keys is a fully diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor (Em: vii^o $^6_5$ ) is D $\musSharp{}$ ^o7/F $\musSharp{}$ .

Practice 2

Leading Tone Seventh Chord

14 Leading Tone Seventh Chord

RESOLUTIONS

Voice Leading

A. leading tone seventh chord moving to the tonic

Minor

Major

Minor

Major

Minor

Major

B. leading tone seventh chord to V⁷ before moving to the tonic

Seventh chords: figured bass in minor

Name and spell any leading tone seventh chord in root position and any inversion, in all major and harmonic minor keys.

Example 1: What is the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major?

Answer: The 7th note of B $\musFlat{}$ major is A. The vii^ø7 chord in major keys is a half diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major (Bb: vii^ø7) is Am7( $\musFlat{}$ 5).

Example 2: What is the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor?

Answer: The 7th note of E minor is D $\musSharp{}$ . The vii^o $^6_5$ chord in minor keys is a fully diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor (Em: vii^o $^6_5$ ) is D $\musSharp{}$ ^o7/F $\musSharp{}$ .

License

Share This Book

RESOLUTIONS

Voice Leading

A. leading tone seventh chord moving to the tonic

Minor

Major

Minor

Major

Minor

Major

B. leading tone seventh chord to V7 before moving to the tonic

Seventh chords: figured bass in minor

Name and spell any leading tone seventh chord in root position and any inversion, in all major and harmonic minor keys.

Example 1: What is the viiø7 chord in B major?

Answer: The 7th note of B major is A. The viiø7 chord in major keys is a half diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the viiø7 chord in B major (Bb: viiø7) is Am7(5).

Example 2: What is the viio chord in E minor?

Answer: The 7th note of E minor is D. The viio chord in minor keys is a fully diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the viio chord in E minor (Em: viio) is Do7/F.

License

Share This Book

B. leading tone seventh chord to V⁷ before moving to the tonic

Example 1: What is the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major?

Answer: The 7th note of B $\musFlat{}$ major is A. The vii^ø7 chord in major keys is a half diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^ø7 chord in B $\musFlat{}$ major (Bb: vii^ø7) is Am7( $\musFlat{}$ 5).

Example 2: What is the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor?

Answer: The 7th note of E minor is D $\musSharp{}$ . The vii^o $^6_5$ chord in minor keys is a fully diminished seventh chord. Therefore, the vii^o $^6_5$ chord in E minor (Em: vii^o $^6_5$ ) is D $\musSharp{}$ ^o7/F $\musSharp{}$ .