1. Harmonic Progressions
AP Music Theory
Mr. Silvagni

2. Harmonic Progressions
Chord
Leads to
I/i
Any other chord
ii/iio
V/v, viio
iii/III*
ii, V, VII
IV/iv
I/i, ii/iio, V/v, viio
V/v
I/i, vi/VI
vi/VI
ii/iio, IV/iv, V/v
viio/VII
I/I, iii/III*
*The mediant chord (iii) is trick to use because it is such a chameleon. The iii/III chord
will not be used in the part-writing or harmonic dictation segments of the AP Music
Theory Exam.

3. Common Harmonic Progressions

4. Circle of Fifths Progression
The movement of chords where the root of each chord is a diatonic fifth above the next chord.
Major: I – IV – viio – iii – vi – ii – V – I
Minor: i – iv – viio(or VII) – III – VI – iio – V – I
Does not always appear in its entirety…ii – V – I or ii6 – V – I are very common

5. Progression in Thirds
The root of each chord is either up or down a third.
Major: I – vi – IV – ii – V or viio6 – I
Minor: i – VI – iv – iio – V or viio6/VII – i

6. Progression in Seconds
The root of each chord is either up or down a second or scale tone.
Major: I – IV – V – I
Minor: i – VI – iv6 – V

7. viio chord The viio is most commonly used in first inversion (viio6)
For the AP test, it will always be used and appear in first inversion
In part writing, double the third of the chord because doubling the root would be doubling the leading tone

8. First Inversion Used to make smoother bass lines Used to prolong tonic
I – I6 or I – V6 – I
Used as a neighboring tone in the bass

9. Second Inversion Used ONLY in these four ways
Passing may go up or down and may also be a 7th chord

10. Retrogression
Moving backwards from Dominant functions to Subdominant functions
Moving backwards in Roman numerals for the most part (vi – V is okay, iii – ii is okay)
Do NOT follow V with IV, ii6, or ii65
Do NOT follow vi (VI) with I (i)
Do NOT follow ii with IV

11. Harmonic Rhythm The rate at which harmony changes
For part writing, you decide how fast the harmonies change
There is nothing wrong with slow harmonic rhythm