What is the second most important triad, after the tonic triad?

What is the second most important triad, after the tonic triad?

• A. The subdominant chord
• B. The dominant chord
• C. The mediant chord
• D. The supertonic chord

Answer: (B)

In tonal harmony, after the tonic triad, the next most important functional pull comes from the dominant triad. Built on the fifth scale degree, it creates a strong tension that yearns to resolve upward to the tonic. This push is reinforced by the leading tone often found in the dominant harmony, which moves smoothly to the tonic, producing a crisp V to I cadence. That decisive resolution is what gives the dominant its power and central role. The subdominant helps set up the move to the dominant and is still important, but its pull to a definite resting place isn’t as strong as the dominant’s. The mediant and supertonic have more variable, lighter roles and don’t drive the key as strongly as the dominant does.

In tonal harmony, after the tonic triad, the next most important functional pull comes from the dominant triad. Built on the fifth scale degree, it creates a strong tension that yearns to resolve upward to the tonic. This push is reinforced by the leading tone often found in the dominant harmony, which moves smoothly to the tonic, producing a crisp V to I cadence. That decisive resolution is what gives the dominant its power and central role.

The subdominant helps set up the move to the dominant and is still important, but its pull to a definite resting place isn’t as strong as the dominant’s. The mediant and supertonic have more variable, lighter roles and don’t drive the key as strongly as the dominant does.