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Secondary dominants are often used to anticipate the natural dominant of the song. For example, in the previous case, the natural dominant of the song was G7, so we could play another dominant before it to prepare going into G. Observe: ... So, we would have the sequence | D7 | G7 | C |, where D7 is the secondary dominant.
How do you analyze a secondary dominant?
Determine the note that would be a perfect 5th below the root of the chord you are analyzing. If this note would be the root of a diatonic chord, the chord you are analyzing is a secondary dominant. Since B is , the F♯ major chord in first inversion is tonicizing V . Therefore the chord is V V V 6 / V .
Do secondary dominants have to be 7th chords?
Like most chords, secondary dominants may be seventh chords or chords with other upper extensions. Dominant seventh chords are commonly used as secondary dominants. The notation below shows the same secondary dominants as above but with dominant seventh chords.
