Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Questions to consider:

• How is the key established in this piece?


• Which triads are not used?

Theory Trainer

Exercise 13bDraw triads when given a roman numeral: major keys

Triads of the Harmonic Minor Scale: Use of Roman Numerals

As with the major scale, each note of the harmonic minor scale may be used as the root of a triad. Triads may
be formed from each note of the natural and melodic minor scales as well, but the harmonic form is most useful
when discussing the harmonies used in pieces written in minor keys (hence the designation “harmonic” minor).
The quality of the triads formed on each note of the harmonic minor scale are the same for every minor key.
In addition to the sharps or flats (if any) in the key signature, the seventh note is always raised a half step. The
seventh note is found in three triads: the mediant, dominant, and leading tone.

Exercise 6

Play and listen to the triads formed from each note in the A minor scale, harmonic form.Although A minor
does not have any sharps or flats in its key signature, the seventh note (G#)will be raised in the mediant,
dominant, and leading tone triads.

Notice:

• The key of the scale is identified at the beginning.


• The quality of the triad (major, minor, augmented, or diminished) is indicated by the use of upper case or
  lower case roman numerals; there are two major, two minor, two diminished, and one augmented triad in
  the harmonic minor scale.

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MODULE 13

Key: Am

Chord Am Bº C+ Dm EM FM G#º Am

symbols

Roman i iiº III+ iv V VI viiº i

numerals

Tonic Super-

tonic

Mediant Sub-

dominant

Dominant Sub-

mediant

Leading

tone

Scale Tonic

degree

names

Workbook Exercises 13.1–13.4

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