What are predominant harmonies?

What are predominant harmonies?

• A. Harmonies that resolve to the tonic
• B. Harmonies that avoid leading tones
• C. Harmonies that pull to the dominant
• D. Harmonies that create dissonance

Answer: (C)

Predominant harmonies are chords whose job is to prepare the dominant and pull the progression toward V. In tonal music, these chords sit between the tonic area and the dominant, creating forward motion that leads your ear to expect the dominant next. Classic examples are the ii and IV chords, which commonly appear before a V chord (as in I–ii–V–I or I–IV–V–I). This preparatory function is what defines them: they set up the tension that the dominant will then resolve. The other ideas don’t capture that preparatory role. A describes chords that tend to resolve to the tonic, which is tonic function. B isn’t about the function of the harmony, and D talks about dissonance rather than the harmonic function of moving toward the dominant.

Predominant harmonies are chords whose job is to prepare the dominant and pull the progression toward V. In tonal music, these chords sit between the tonic area and the dominant, creating forward motion that leads your ear to expect the dominant next. Classic examples are the ii and IV chords, which commonly appear before a V chord (as in I–ii–V–I or I–IV–V–I). This preparatory function is what defines them: they set up the tension that the dominant will then resolve.

The other ideas don’t capture that preparatory role. A describes chords that tend to resolve to the tonic, which is tonic function. B isn’t about the function of the harmony, and D talks about dissonance rather than the harmonic function of moving toward the dominant.