7.3: Diatonic Chords in Minor

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Because there are three versions of the minor scale, there are more than seven diatonic chords in minor. The sixth and seventh scale degrees affect all of the triads except the tonic, making 13 possible diatonic triads in minor.

All diatonic triads in A natural minor, A harmonic minor, and A melodic minor

However, when one analyzes a large amount of tonal music, one finds the following Roman numerals are most commonly used in minor.

The most commonly used diatonic triads in A minor: A minor, B diminished, C major, D minor, E major, F major, and G-sharp diminished, with Roman numerals

Notice that both VIIVII (the “subtonic triad”) and viivii∘ (the “leading-tone triad”) are included.

Definition 7.3.2.

The subtonic triad (VIIVII) is built on the lowered 7^ that occurs in natural minor and requires no accidentals in minor keys.

The subtonic triad regularly occurs in circle of fifth progressions in minor (see Section 9.1) and in rock and pop music (see Section 9.6). The leading-tone triad (viivii∘) is built on raised 7^ and is usually either a passing harmony or has dominant function (see Section 9.4).