Dominant

The dominant is the fifth degree of a scale, a perfect fifth above the tonic. In C major it is G, and in A minor it is E. The dominant chord, written V, is the chord most strongly drawn back to the tonic, and the V to I progression is the authentic cadence that ends most tonal phrases. Adding a minor seventh to the dominant chord gives the dominant seventh, such as G B D F, whose tritone between B and F resolves inward to C and E. In A minor the dominant chord is E major, which uses the raised leading tone G♯ from harmonic minor.

Related terms

• TonicThe first degree of a scale, the note that a key is named for and that tonal music treats as its home and point of rest.
• Leading toneThe seventh degree of a major or harmonic minor scale, a half step below the tonic, which pulls strongly up to it.
• SubdominantThe fourth degree of the scale, a fifth below the tonic, which often leads to the dominant or tonic.
• TritoneAn interval of six semitones, spelled as an augmented fourth or a diminished fifth, such as F to B or B to F.

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