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Identifying and naming chords - model answer

4(a) (iii)  Review technical names for scale notes first. The first note is an Ab and is the 6th note of the scale - submediant.  The second note is a B natural and the 7th note of the scale - the leading note

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4(b) (i)   You’ re told the key is C minor so bring to mind/ write down the notes of the of the 4 triads on I, II, IV and V

I = C-Eb-G,  II = D-F-Ab,  IV =F-Ab-C, V = G -B-D

At X, the notes bracketed are  F-Ab and C twice - must be a IV chord

At Y, the notes bracketed are D -F and Ab - must be a II chord

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Now work out the positions of the chords.   X is IV chord and so its “root” is the 4th note of the C minor scale whish is F.  The F note is in the middle of the chord - so it must be a “c” chord. Equivalently, the bottom note is a C which is a 5th above F, the root, so it must be a “c” chord.     X is IVc    The answer is IV with lowest note a 5th

Y is a II chord so its root is the 2nd note of the C minor scale, which is D. The D note is at the top of the chord so it must be a “b” chord. Equivalently, the bottom note is a F which is a 3rd above D, the root, so it must be  a “b” chord.  The answer is II with lowest note  note a 3rd

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4(b) (ii)   You are looking for a Ic - V progression. Bring to mind/ write down the notes of the I and V chords in C minor as   I = C-Eb-G,  , V = G -B natural-D.  Remember the V chord

will contain an accidental in a minor scale - a B natural in this case.

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The Ic chord will be written with a G at the bottom and then have the notes C and Eb written above in any order.  The V chord will be written with a G ad the bottom and then have the notes B natural and D written above in any order.

Don’t bother reading all the score from the beginning, but zoom in on easily identifiable notes - B naturals in this case.  Looking in bar two, the chord formed around the B natural matches Va !  The preceding chord is a G-C-Eb stack which matches the Ic  - and we have our answer.  But this chord progression is at other points in the extract and identifying them here would have been as equally correct.