Introducing the Submediant

Question 1

The Submediant

Answer 1

• the vi chord
• • the vi chord can be used as a substitute for the tonic. this is known as Tonic Substitution
• the most common use of a vi chord is when we substitute the vi chord in order to delay a cadence
• • we use a (Ts) to annotate a tonic substitution
• • we’ll see a 5-6 motion in order add to the substitution. this is done by taking the whole chord down a step
• when annotating a piece we now have Tonic Expansion which is when we delay changing the functionality of the tonic chord (T)
• • Subdominant expansion is using the IV chord to delay a half cadence
• • Submediant expansion is when we use the vi chord to delay a full cadence
• We sometimes use Tonic to predominant to dominant and back to tonic (T-PD-D-T) in the expansion in order to tease the listener into thinking they’ll hear a functional tonic chord. this is called Embedding

Question 2

the submediant triad vi (VI in minor) shares two scale degrees with the tonic triad. in G major what pitches are they?

Answer 2

• G; B

Question 3

the submediant chord of a tonic expansion (I-vi6) can be very brief. often, the vi6 not heard as a new chord

Answer 3

• true

Question 4

if the duration of the vi6 chord is very short, it may be more appropriate to label this tonic expansion by 5-6 _______ motion

Answer 4

• linear

Question 5

a PD-D-T progression may be within the over-arching tonic expansion of a T-PD-D phrase

Answer 5

• true