Secondary Dominant
The dominant of a chord that is not the tonic — written V/V and the like
Related
A secondary dominant is the dominant of a chord that is not the tonic: it lies outside the current key yet points to a temporary tonic as a dominant. The notation is fractional: V/V is "the dominant of the dominant", V/ii "the dominant of the second degree".
Its job is to lend a chord temporary gravity and give the progression direction. The usual mistake is to hear it as a modulation: it usually tonicizes the next chord without establishing a new key; only a confirming cadence and a real move of centre make a modulation. A secondary dominant is borrowed gravity, not a move.
Read deeper → Secondary Dominant
Sources
- 副属和弦的记法与功能，参 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Secondary dominant"；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.