Secondary Dominants: A Thing You Should Probably Know About

And we're back! We kicked off the new year with secondary dominants, an important but kind of complicated concept. But don't worry, we're here to help! As always, you can put your answers in the comment box below or on the main video: Either way, we'll get back to you. Let's get to the exercises!

1) Let's start by analyzing secondary dominants in isolation. For each chord below, use the key signature to identify what degree it's the secondary dominant of. The first two examples give you the chord and the key names, the next two just the chord, and the last two you'll have to figure out on your own. (All the keys are major.)

2) Now let's look at it another way. Let's start with the key of C major and identify every available secondary dominant. For each chord in C major, what secondary dominant would resolve to it? What non-diatonic notes are needed in order to make that secondary dominant? What about B diminished? Does a secondary dominant for that make sense to you?

3) Write something! Maybe try the interpolation method, finding a chord progression you like and inserting some secondary dominants to help guide the listener along. Or start with an interesting resolution and build around it. It's up to you! If you have a progression you think is interesting, send it to me and I'll try to get you a track of it so you can hear what it sounds like.

And that's secondary dominants! Welcome back, and we'll see you next week!