7

I have heard in certain songs the usage of a diminished chord in a major tonality which I think is not constructed over the seventh degree nor over the second degree.

Moreover, in the two examples at which I have found this resource, I have noticed that it is used with the same chord-sequence: I - i°? - I.

The two examples I mention are these ones:

How and why does this technique work? Does it have any particular name?

Improve this question
1
  • 3
    Possibly you're under the misapprehension that chords to a pice must be diatonic? Since there are in reality only three diminished chords, and all can and will fit into any key, it's not unusual. Instead of stacking a M3 and a m3, or m3 and M3, it merely stacks two m3s. In these cases from the tonic root.
    – Tim
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 12:33

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
12

This technique is called a "common tone diminished chord." As the name implies, this is a diminished chord that shares note ("common tone") with the chord preceding it and the chord after it. Common tone diminished chords are used purely as a chromatic embellishment of the harmony; as opposed to traditional diminished chords that act as a dominant and can be used to modulate to different keys.

Improve this answer
3
  • 2
    that's it! www2.siba.fi/muste1/index.php?id=90&la=en
    – Albrecht Hügli
    Commented Jul 15, 2019 at 20:30
  • Ok, so it doesn't have any function (dominant, leading, etc.)? How would this be written with roman numerals, this way? I - i° - I?
    – Quaerendo
    Commented Jul 16, 2019 at 18:46
  • @Quaerendo Yes, I - i° - I would be a good way to analyze the progression in your example. In terms of function, I would say it is an example of non-functional harmony; it is meant to elaborate on the tonic, but it doesn't pull the harmony towards the dominant.
    – Peter
    Commented Jul 17, 2019 at 17:37
2

Besides the common tone diminished, there is a type of chord consisting of a fully diminished chord viio built over a tonic pedal. In Spanish we have a label for those, acorde de sobretonica, I did not find the translation in English for this label. The examples in this page are clear http://cpms-armoniadecuarto.blogspot.com/2009/02/acordes-de-sobretonica.html

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.