20221008222300 Predominant function

Predominant function

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

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

• $IIm$^[1][2]
  • $II{m}^6$ is the most common predominant function harmony in classical music^[2]
• $IV$^[1][2]
• $bI{I}^6$^[2]
• $vii{º}^7/V$^[2]
• $V/V$, particularly $V_5^6/V$ and $V^6/V$ ^[2]
• The augmented sixth chords

While some may say $VIm$ has predominant function, it might more easily be thought of as a tonic substitute.^[2]

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References:
[1]: hutchinson-2017 “9.4 Harmonic Function”
[2]: caplin-2013 p.10