Mediant Triads and Parallel Six-Three Chords

Question 1

Mediant Triads

Answer 1

• Mediant Triads (iii) are naturally weak chords. We try to stay away from iii chords
• • iii chords shares 2 members with the I and V chords. This makes it harmonically hard to hear
• • when analyzing make sure the chord is not a V or a vii
• usually a iii chord is an extension of the tonic
• • you can substitute I, iii, IV chord progression for a I, I6, IV to give the same basic idea
• • III chords can sometimes substitue a dominant V7 in a minor piece
• III chords in minor music can also have parallel six-three chords to extend the tonic
• • i - v6 - iv6 - III6(V) are commonly used patterns. with the descending bass line 1 - b7 - b6 - 5

Question 2

a big reason why the mediant (iii/III) is to be avoided is because:

Answer 2

• it is too weak since it shares too many notes with both tonic AND dominant

Question 3

most of the time, if you think you’ve found a mediant chord in analyzing music, you’ve likely found a _______ chord with missing notes

Answer 3

• V or viio

Question 4

in the late 19th century, _________ _________ composers sought to use the mediant chord to evoke modal sounds

Answer 4

• Russian Nationalist

Question 5

by far the most common use for the mediant chord is ______ _______

Answer 5

• tonic prolongation

Question 6

a parallel six-three chain is

Answer 6

• a chain of chords in first inversion