By definition, secondary dominants usually resolve to the dominant. But sometimes they go to a major or minor subdominant, then the tonic, with a sort of descending rather than ascending voice leading:
6->(6 or ♭6)->5
#4->4->3
2->1->1
(This is occasionally referred to as a cross-relation or false relation.)
It happens in “Eight Days a Week” in a major key with IV:
Or in “You’re All I Need to Get By”, still major but with iv:
And a transcription I’ve nearly finished uses it in a minor passage:
(Is it just a coincidence that all three examples keep the same lowest note throughout? The first two examples repeat the progression in their verse but switch to uninverted chords, so maybe.)
The big question: which numeral do you prefer to use for these secondary dominants? I see V/V used in some places, but II is more common in tabs here. Is it situational, and if so, what should it depend on?
2 posts - 2 participants


