Flute · Level 6 · Intermediate

Secondary dominants in B major on Flute

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THE SHORT ANSWER

A secondary dominant is the V7 of a chord other than I. Turning vi into VI7 makes it pull strongly towards ii, adding forward motion.

B

B major

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯

low♯middle♯middlemiddle
Register

G♯7

G♯ dominant seventh

Notes: G♯ · B♯ · D♯ · F♯

♯low♯middle♯middle♯middle♯middle
Register

C♯m

C♯ minor

Notes: C♯ · E · G♯

♯lowlow♯low♯middle
Register

F♯7

F♯ dominant seventh

Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E

♯low♯low♯middlemiddle♯middle
Register
1
B
2
G♯7
3
C♯m
4
F♯7

HOW TO PRACTISE IT

Six steps to a clean loop.

  1. Play each chord as an arpeggio, one note at a time: B, G♯7, C♯m and F♯7. Press play on the card, then match each note.
  2. Keep a steady air stream between notes; for the higher notes, aim the air a little higher instead of blowing harder.
  3. Set the tempo to 63 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Hear how VI7 contains a note that is not in the key and wants to rise.
  4. Play the chord tones one at a time, one note per beat, tonguing each note lightly (“too”).
  5. Raise the tempo to 84 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
  6. Record one take, listen back and check for the strong pull from VI7 into ii.

Listen for

Aim for the strong pull from VI7 into ii. A common mistake is playing VI7 as the minor vi out of habit.

Why it works

VI7 is V7 of ii. Its major third is the raised fifth scale degree, which resolves up a half step.

B major has 5 sharps; its relative minor key is G♯ minor.

Questions

What are the chords in I–VI7–ii–V7 in B major?

In B major the progression is B | G♯7 | C♯m | F♯7.

What is the key signature of B major?

B major has 5 sharps. Its relative minor is G♯ minor.

Is this lesson right for my level?

This is a level 6 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “The I–vi–ii–V turnaround”.

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