Diminished Scale Voice Leading


Upper partial triads of the tonic and dominant diminished scales with resolutions to the tonic chord. Specifically, voice leading to three note quartal fragments of the tonic chord.

Criteria

The examples are limited to those progressions which best meet the criteria that the penultimate "triad" fragment and subsequent quartal fragment (1) have few or no common tones, (2) are in close proximity, and (3) demonstrate contrary motion in voice movement.


The Tonic Diminished Scale

For the key of A major the grand quartal chord is:
G# - C# - F# - B - E - A - D

and the constituent three note "4th" chords which may represent an Amaj chord (sans "D"):
G#4, C#4, F#4, B4
(see previous post on quartal chord voicings here)

The tonic diminished scale in A is:
A - B - C - D - D# - F - F# - G# - (A)

and the constituent triads of the diminished scale are:
D, Bm, B, G#m, Ab, Fm, F , Dm, (D)

Technically speaking, the grand quartal chord for the diminished scale is comprised of alternating P4 and dim4 (M3):
A - D - F# - B - D# - G# - C - F - (A)
Therefore, the subsequent upper partial triads are likewise, in a sense, derivative quartal chords.

Cycle of alternating perfect and diminished fourths



Examples

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3

Download PDF file here

The Dominant Diminished Scale

The Dominant Diminished Scale in E is
E - F - G - G# - Bb - B - C# - D - (E)

and constituent triads are:
C#m, C#, Bbm, Bb, Gm, G, Em, E, (C#m)

Alternating cycle of dim4 and P4
E - G# - C# - F - Bb - D - G - B - (E)

Cycle of alternating diminished and perfect fourths





Examples

Page 1
Page 2

Download PDF file here

Combined PDF Here

Posted: Mon - December 22, 2008 at 08:43 AM          

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