Show off your theory chops with my weekly challenge! You’ll find a new question here every Monday. Please comment to post your reply.
This week’s challenge:
In common practice harmony, why does a 3rd-inversion V7 chord resolve to i6, not root-position tonic?
Reply to post your answer, and check back on Friday, December 17th to see if you’re right!
ANSWER for 12/13/21
The V7 chord has two tendency tones: its 3rd (TI) and its 7th (FA). The natural resolution of TI is up to DO, and FA resolves down to MI (or ME if we’re in minor). These resolutions occur regardless of what inversion the V7 chord is in. So in a third inversion V7 chord (V4/2), the chord’s 7th is in the bass, and must resolve down to the 3rd of the tonic chord. Watch these two excerpts from the Breaking Barlines diatonic harmony video for more detail:
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