20221008211500 Dominant function

Dominant function

In harmony, a chord is said to have a dominant function if it feels like it wants to go to a chord with tonic function.^[1]

In diatonic music the following chords have a dominant function are:

• $V$^[1][2]
  • especially $V^7$
• $VII{º}^6$
  • When going to a tonic harmony^[2]
  • Some write that $VIIº$ always has dominant function regardless of inversion^[1]
• $VII{º}^7$
  • All inversions – when going to a tonic harmony^[2]
• $IIIm$
  • Sometimes functions as a substitute, e.g. in the progression $IIIm-I$^[2]
• $I_4^6$ ^[2]
  • This acts as an embellishment of $V$, so the progression would be $I_4^6$ - $V$ - $I$ – also see cadential 6-4

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References:
[1]: hutchinson-2017 “9.4 Harmonic Function”
[2]: caplin-2013 p.9