AP Music Theory Flashcards: Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
Why do secondary dominant chords almost always require accidentals in their spelling?
They require accidentals because diatonic scale degrees must be altered to create the dominant function (specifically, the leading tone) for the temporary tonic.
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Why do secondary dominant chords almost always require accidentals in their spelling?
They require accidentals because diatonic scale degrees must be altered to create the dominant function (specifically, the leading tone) for the temporary tonic.
What is the primary function of a secondary dominant chord?
Its primary function is to precede and resolve to a non-tonic chord, making that chord feel like a temporary tonic.
In notated music, what is the most common visual indicator of tonicization?
Accidentals are the most common visual indicator, as they are used to show the altered diatonic scale degrees needed to create secondary dominant chords.
What is tonicization?
Tonicization is the process of making a non-tonic scale degree or chord sound like a temporary tonic. It is a local, fleeting harmonic event that does not change the primary key.
How can tonicization be identified in performed music without seeing the score?
It can be identified aurally when a non-tonic chord sounds like a temporary point of arrival or resolution, often preceded by a chord with a strong dominant pull towards it.
How does tonicization affect the primary key of a piece?
Tonicization does not change the primary key of the music. It is a temporary and local harmonic event.
What harmonic process is represented by the progression V⁷/V resolving to V?
This progression demonstrates tonicization, where the dominant chord (V) is made to sound like a temporary tonic by being preceded by its own dominant (V⁷/V).
What is a secondary dominant chord?
A secondary dominant chord (V/X or V⁷/X) is the dominant of a chord other than the tonic. It is the most common way to effect tonicization.
In the Roman numeral V/X, what does the "/X" (read as "of X") signify?
The "/X" signifies that the chord is the dominant *of* chord X. Chord X is the non-tonic chord that is being temporarily tonicized.
If a composer wants to tonicize the supertonic (ii) chord in a major key, what secondary dominant chord would they use?
They would use the dominant of the supertonic, which is notated as V/ii.