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Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

Robert Hutchinson

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Section 9.4 Harmonic Function

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Now we will address non-circle-of-fifths progressions. Notice that we have not included the vii∘ or IV chord in any of the shorter circle of fifths progressions above. However, it is a common axiom that Rock ‘n’ Roll is made up of three chords: I, IV, and V. This is because each of those chords represents a harmonic function. Harmonic function refers to the tendency of certain chords to progress to other chords, or to remain at rest. Many texts on music theory enumerate three harmonic functions. In this text, we will discuss four.
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    Tonic function (abbreviated “ton.”): The I chord has tonic function, which is a state of stability and rest. Tonic chords do not demand progression to other chords.
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    Dominant function (abbreviated “dom.”): The V and vii∘ (chords containing the leading tone 7^ and supertonic 2^) tend to progress to tonic (I). Special note: The I/5th chord has dominant function when it resolves to the V chord, as in the third chord from the end of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
    Figure 9.4.1. Key and Smith, “The Star-Spangled Banner”
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    Pre-dominant function (abbreviated “pre-dom.”): The IV and ii (chords containing the subdominant 4^ and submediant 6^) tend to progress to chords of dominant function.
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    Tonic prolongation function (abbreviated “ton. prol.”): The vi and iii (chords that share two common tones with 1^–3^–5^ from the tonic triad) tend to occur after the tonic chord and progress to chords of pre-dominant function.
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Harmonic function is represented on a flowchart in the next section.
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Subsection 9.4.1 The Harmonic Flowchart

Harmonic Flowchart in Major
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Figure 9.4.2. Harmonic Flowchart in Major
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Remember that IV goes to I in the plagal cadence and V goes to vi in the deceptive cadence. When IV goes to I, label IV as having tonic prolongation function. The plagal cadence and deceptive cadence are exceptions to the harmonic flowchart.
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Here is the Harmonic Flowchart in minor. Note the addition of the subtonic VII chord, which has one function—to progress to III.
Harmonic Flowchart in Minor
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Figure 9.4.3. Harmonic Flowchart in Minor
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The tonic chord I can progress directly to a chord of any other function and, in fact, many pieces begin with a I–V–I progression, representing harmonic function of Tonic-Dominant-Tonic.
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Subsection 9.4.2 Tonic-Dominant-Tonic Progression

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This is the most elemental progression in music, often realized with I–V–I.
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Figure 9.4.4. W.A. Mozart, Piano Sonata, K. 283, I.
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Figure 9.4.5. Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 2, No. 3, I.
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Figure 9.4.6. Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto, “La donna è mobile”
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Figure 9.4.7. Lennon-McCartney, “Hey Jude”
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Figure 9.4.8. Sanger D. Shafer and Linda J. Shafer, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” (1986)
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The principle of “Tonic-Dominant-Tonic” could also be represented with I–vii∘–I. Even though we learned that “dominant” means “5^” (and also “V”) in earlier sections, “dominant function” in terms of harmony means “a chord that progresses to the tonic chord.” We will revisit this concept and other possibilities for “dominant function” later.
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Subsection 9.4.3 Tonic-PreDominant-Dominant-Tonic Progression

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This sequence of harmonic functions can be realized in four possible ways:
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    I–ii–V–I
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    I–IV–V–I
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    I–IV–vii∘–I
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    I–ii–vii∘–I
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Here are examples with I–ii–V–I.
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Figure 9.4.9. J.S. Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, Prelude 1 in C major BWV 846
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Figure 9.4.10. W.A. Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550, I. (textural reduction)
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Figure 9.4.11. John Kander and Fred Ebb, “Theme from New York, New York” (1977)
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Figure 9.4.12. Meghan Trainor and Kevin Kadish, “All About That Bass” (bass line and chord symbols only) (2014)
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Here are examples with I–IV–V–I realizing the Ton-PreDom-Dom-Ton progression.
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Figure 9.4.13. Frédéric Chopin, Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 34 No. 1
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Figure 9.4.14. David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Michael Skloff, Allee Willis, Phil Solem, Danny Wilde, “I’ll Be There For You” (bass line and chords only) (1995)
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Progressions using vii∘ (I–IV–vii∘–I and I–ii–vii∘–I) are less common because of the instability of diminished chords.
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Subsection 9.4.4 The Tonic-Tonic Prolongation-PreDominant-Dominant Progression

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This progression is most commonly realized with I–vi–IV–V, although in classical music one will often encounter I–vi–ii/3rd–V (mentioned above in the section on vi–ii–V–I ).
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Notice the bass line starts with descending thirds.
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Figure 9.4.15. Compare I–vi–IV–V to I–vi–ii/3rd–V (the bass lines are the same)
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Here is a musical example with I–vi–ii/3rd–V.
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Figure 9.4.16. Ludwig van Beethoven, Pathétique Sonata, Op. 13, I
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Subsubsection 9.4.4.1 I–vi–IV–V

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As mentioned earlier, the progression I–vi–IV–V was so prevalent in the 1950s that it is known as the “’50s progression” and the “’50s doo-wop progression.”
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Listen for this bass line in the following examples.
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Figure 9.4.17. I–vi–IV–V bass line in C major
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    Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser, “Heart and Soul” (in C major)
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    Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin, Gaynel Hodge, “Earth Angel” (in A-flat major) (1954)
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    Dolly Parton, “I Will Always Love You” (in A major) (1974)
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    Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone, “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” (in C major) (1978)
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In the above examples, the chords have have half-note harmonic rhythm. In the following example, the chords have whole-note harmonic rhythm (4 beats per chord).
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    John Stephens and Toby Gad, “All of Me” (in A-flat major) (2013)
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The I–vi–IV–V progression can also be rotated to IV–V–I–vi, as in the following example.
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Figure 9.4.18. Nasri Atwey, Adam Messinger, Mark Pellizzer, Ben Spivak, Alex Tanas, “Rude” (bass line and chords only) (2014)
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You will see more examples of Tonic-Tonic Prolongation-PreDominant-Dominant progressions, including the use of the iii chord, in the Practice Exercises and the Homework.
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Remember, there are two exceptions in Harmonic Function: IV has tonic prolongation function when it progresses to I, and I/5th has dominant function when it progresses to V.
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