Question:
Ive been reading a little about this in FBL 3, and on the video, but the way its worded in the book is a little wierd.
Can someone explain exactly how the method of subsituting a secondary dominant for the primary works?
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*re-edit*
Opened.
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I could still use some input on substitutions and secondary dominants.
Answer:
Secondary dominants do not substitute for the primary dominant, they are used predominately for modulation. Something that substitutes for the dominant could be an altered dominant, you see those a lot in jazz music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_dominant
Answer:
Secondary dominants, at the most basic and easiest to understand level is taking a chord that isn't a dominant (such as a iii) and making it a dominant chord. It'll still function essentially the same way (iii to vi, in this case), but it'll be notated V(7)/vi. It can be a lot more detailed, but that's the simplest way I can think of off the top of my head.
Answer:
Yeah, it really isn't something that can be explained easily. In a theory class, you could easily spend half a semester on secondary dominants alone.
Answer:
Actually, I meant substitutions and SD's as different subjects, not using SD's as Subs.
Sorry for the mix up.
Answer:
Oftentimes, secondary dominants are spoken of as "the V of the V..."
For example, in the key of C major, the dominant would be a G major chord, and the secondary dominant (the V of V) would be D major.
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by MrCrabby Yeah, it really isn't something that can be explained easily. In a theory class, you could easily spend half a semester on secondary dominants alone.

Answer:
Originally Posted by MrCrabby Yeah, it really isn't something that can be explained easily. In a theory class, you could easily spend half a semester on secondary dominants alone.
I think we spent half a class on it...not a minute more.
Answer:
So besides adding new areas of harmonic interest, what other purposes do SDs serve?
Answer:
Originally Posted by demon_hunter So besides adding new areas of harmonic interest, what other purposes do SDs serve?
Their purpose is to "tonicize" a chord other than the true tonic, usually the dominant (at a half cadence) or the relative minor (at a deceptive cadence). Look in a hymnal to find the traditional arrangement of Luther's "A Mighty Fortress" and you will see a dozen examples of secondary dominants.