Secondary DominantsBorrowing a chord's own dominant to strengthen the move to it.MusicA secondary dominant is the V7 of a chord that isnot the tonic, written V7/x.V7/V in C = D7 → G · V7/vi in C = E7 → AmApproaching G in the key of CD7 → GD7 is the V7 of G. It needs an F♯.Approaching Am in CE7 → AmRequires a G♯.Approaching F in CC7 → FThe tonic borrows a flat 7th.THE COMMON MISTAKEThinking the accidental means the key has changedIt is a borrowed chord inside the same keyA secondary dominant lasts one chord. A modulation establishes a new tonicand stays there.The accidental is always the raised third of the new dominant — theleading note of its target.Secondary Dominantslearnposters.com
Secondary Dominants — printable music wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

What’s on the Secondary Dominants poster

The rule, 3 worked examples, and the mistake everyone makes.

The accidental is always the raised third of the new dominant — the leading note of its target.

Questions about the Secondary Dominants poster

What’s on the Secondary Dominants poster?
The rule, 3 worked examples, and the mistake everyone makes. A secondary dominant is the V7 of a chord that is not the tonic, written V7/x.; V7/V in C = D7 → G · V7/vi in C = E7 → Am; Approaching G in the key of C = D7 → G; Approaching Am in C = E7 → Am; Approaching F in C = C7 → F; Common mistake: Thinking the accidental means the key has changed → It is a borrowed…. The accidental is always the raised third of the new dominant — the leading note of its target.
Who is the Secondary Dominants poster for?
Secondary Dominants belongs to the Music section rather than to a school year, because music is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning theory can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the Secondary Dominants poster?
Any chord can be approached by its own V7. That is the whole idea. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Secondary Dominants belongs on the wall where that music work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with Secondary Dominants?
Borrowed Chords, Cadences and Building Chords sit alongside Secondary Dominants in the Music section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.Borrowed ChordsCadencesBuilding Chords
Is the Secondary Dominants poster free to download and print?
Yes. Secondary Dominants downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Music section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the Secondary Dominants poster print at?
Secondary Dominants is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Secondary Dominants loses nothing.Printing guide

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