SAT / PSAT
SAT / PSAT Prep
History & Social Science
AP World History AP US History AP European History AP Human Geography AP US Government & Politics AP Psychology AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics
English
AP English Language & Composition AP English Literature & Composition
Math & Computer Science
AP Calculus AB/BC AP Precalculus AP Statistics AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles
Sciences
AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics 1 AP Physics 2
World Languages & Arts
AP Spanish Language AP Art History AP Music Theory Start studying →
Unit 7 · Harmony & Voice Leading IV Flashcards Cheat Sheet Essentials Visual Review MC Practice FRQ Practice

AP Music Theory Unit 7 Visual Review

A topic-by-topic visual walkthrough of Unit 7: tonicization through secondary dominant and secondary leading-tone chords, and their part writing.

← Back to Unit 7 hub
UNIT 7 · TOPIC 7.1 Secondary dominant chords Borrow a dominant from another key for a moment to spotlight a chord that is not the tonic. TONICIZATION V / VVI "the dominant of the dominant" V/V treats the V chord as a temporary tonic, giving it its own leading tone. The key never truly changes; the color does. HOW TO SPOT ONE Look for an accidental that is not in the key: it usually raises a leading tone. The chord is a major triad or dominant seventh a fifth above its target. Common ones: V/V, V/ii, V/IV, V/vi. Read "V of five", "V of two", and so on. KEY IDEA A secondary dominant (V/x) tonicizes a non-tonic chord, marked by a borrowed accidental. The Review Hub · AP Music Theory · Unit 7 UNIT 7 · TOPIC 7.2 Part writing secondary dominants Voice-lead a secondary dominant exactly like a normal V7, aimed at its temporary tonic. THE STEPS 1. Find the target chord (the "of x"). 2. Build a V (or V7) a fifth above it, raising the needed leading tone. 3. Resolve the new leading tone up and the chordal seventh down, both by step. 4. Keep common tones; move smoothly. Treat the target like a mini-tonic. WATCH OUT FOR The raised leading tone is a tendency tone: never leave it hanging. Avoid a cross relation, where the natural and raised forms clash between two different voices. Keep the raised tone in the same voice that later resolves it. KEY IDEA Resolve a secondary dominant to its target: raised leading tone up, seventh down, no cross relations. The Review Hub · AP Music Theory · Unit 7 UNIT 7 · TOPIC 7.3 Secondary leading-tone chords A borrowed vii° can also tonicize a chord, with an even sharper pull than a secondary dominant. TONICIZING WITH vii° vii° / VVI "the leading-tone chord of V" Built a half step below the target chord, it is usually a diminished seventh chord. Often written vii°7/V or vii(half-dim)7/V. VS THE SECONDARY DOMINANT Both tonicize a chord and both use a borrowed leading tone. The secondary dominant sits a fifth above the target; the leading-tone chord sits a half step below it. The fully diminished form works in both major and minor keys. KEY IDEA A secondary leading-tone chord (vii°/x) sits a half step below its target and tonicizes it sharply. The Review Hub · AP Music Theory · Unit 7 UNIT 7 · TOPIC 7.4 Part writing secondary leading-tone chords Resolve every tendency tone carefully, and handle the diminished seventh with special care. RESOLVING THE VOICES The secondary leading tone resolves up to the root of the target chord. The chordal seventh resolves down by step. Resolve the diminished fifth inward to avoid parallel fifths. Let common tones stay where they are. Every dissonant interval has one right path. THE DIMINISHED SEVENTH A fully diminished seventh is built of stacked minor thirds, so it is symmetrical. That symmetry lets it resolve to several keys, which is why it is so flexible. Spell it from the borrowed leading tone so the Roman numeral is clear. KEY IDEA Resolve the leading tone up and the seventh down; move the diminished fifth inward to dodge parallels. The Review Hub · AP Music Theory · Unit 7
1 / 4

How to use the visual review

Spend 30 seconds per slide before clicking next. Look at the diagram, then ask yourself: "Could I draw this from memory and explain it?"

Use the fullscreen button () on desktop for the best experience. Use arrow keys to navigate. Tap "Show all slides" to jump around.

This is great for review the night before the exam — fast, visual, and covers everything you need to remember about Unit 7's fundamentals.