Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

• The roman numerals, triad qualities, and scale degree names are the same for every harmonic minor scale.
  Only the triad letter names (A, B, C) change with the key.

Exercise 7—Class Exercise

1. Using accidentals,draw the triads of the E harmonic minor scale. Below each triad, label the roman numeral
   and the chord symbol. Note that the F#comes from the E minor key signature; the D is raised because it is
   the seventh note of the scale.


2. After the clef, draw the key signatureand triads for the D harmonic minor scale. Below each triad, label
   the roman numerals and chord symbols. When using a key signature, the only accidental that is needed is
   the raised seventh; three triads will be affected (III+,V, and vii°).

335

TRIADS: ROMAN NUMERALS

EmEm:

i

Key signature

Dm F+ C#º

iiº V

QUALITY OF TRIADS IN MINOR SCALES

Majortriads are Vand VI.

Minortriads are iand iv.

Diminishedtriads are iiºand viiº.

The augmentedtriad (III+)is indicated by an upper case roman numeral followed by a + sign. Composers of the Common Practice

period (approximately the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries) did not use the augmented form of the mediant triad except in

passing. Even today, the mediant is usually a major triad which is formed from the natural minor form of the scale.