Topmusicanswers
An unresolved leading tone can work with an inner voice, but it should generally be avoided. ... First resolve the seventh by moving down a step, then resolve the leading tone by moving up a step (or down a third if in an inner voice and it's necessary), then resolve everything else.
- How does a leading tone resolve?
- What is an unresolved chordal seventh?
- What is a leading tone in a scale?
- What is frustrating the leading tone?
How does a leading tone resolve?
The typical rule is that the leading tone must resolve up to tonic when it is in an outer voice (that is, the soprano or bass). If the leading tone is in an inner voice, it can resolve down a third to the fifth of the tonic chord (a so-called "sprung" or "frustrated" leading tone).
What is an unresolved chordal seventh?
3. Chordal sevenths are unresolved or resolved incorrectly. (The voice with the seventh must move down by step or maintain the same pitch, depending on the next chord.) ... The leading tone in an outer voice is unresolved or resolved incorrectly.
What is a leading tone in a scale?
In the major scale, or any scale with a natural seventh scale degree like the melodic minor scale or harmonic minor scale, the seventh scale degree is known as the leading tone. The leading tone is a half-step lower than the tonic and has a natural gravity to resolve to the tonic.
What is frustrating the leading tone?
Frustrated Leading Tone
If the leading tone in a V or viio chord lies in one of the outer voices (soprano or bass, where it would be most noticable) and the chord resolves to I without connecting ^7 to ^1 as expected, this is called a “frustrated” leading tone.
