5.1.2 Roman Numerals

Music Theory

5.1.2 Roman Numerals

Learners can:

• identify the connection between scale degrees, formal chord names, and Roman numerals
• identify Roman numerals of chords within the major and minor keys
• recognize chords that are stable versus unstable within a scale

Vocabulary: chord progression, dominant chord, Roman numeral analysis, subdominant chord, tonic chord

Review

Match the chord to its quality.

minor

Major

diminsihed

augmented

Roman Numerals

• Roman Numerals are another way to label numbers

Roman Numeral Analysis

• counting system from ancient times
• Roman numerals can be used in music theory to connect chords to their scale degrees
• This distinguishes the label from the scale degree label because the Roman numeral will be a letter, not a number

Scale Degrees

• each scale has 7 scale degrees
• seven differnet chords can be built off of each of these pitches in any given key

Scale Degrees

• The Roman numeral indicates which scale degree is the root pitch of the chord
• Additional markings can be used to show chord quality and inversions
• Capital letters = Major, lowercase = minor

Roman Numerals

Match the Roman Numeral to the number it represents.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Different Roman Numerals for minor key

I and i triads

• built upon the first scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral I or i
• tonic is the starting or central pitch of a key
• major in a major scale
• minor in a minor scale

ii and ii° triads

• built upon the second scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral II or ii°
• minor in a major scale
• diminished in a minor scale

iii and III chords

• built upon the third scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral III or iii
• minor in a major scale
• major in a minor scale

IV and iv chords

• built upon the fourth scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral IV or iv
• major in a major scale
• minor in a minor scale

V and v chords

• built upon the fifth scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral V or v
• major in a major scale
• minor in a minor scale

vi and VI chords

• The submediant chord is built upon the sixth scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral VI or vi
• minor in a major scale
• major in a minor scale

vii° & VII triads

• built upon the seventh scale degree of a key
• defined with the Roman numeral VII or vii°
• The vii° chord is diminished in a major scale
• The VII chord is major in a minor scale.

Stable Chords

Chords built off tonic chord ones (R, 3, 5)I iii V

Chord Stability

• Some chords are stable, meaning that they have a strong, connected, and anticipated sound
• Unstable chords are weaker and less satisfying

Somewhat Unstable

iivi

Unstable

IV vii°

Roman Numeral Analysis

• using Roman Numeral labels is a quick way to identify the tonal centers throughout a chord progression

Label the Roman Numerals in the Progression below

Summary

In today's lesson, you:

• recognized the four voices of a chord progression
• identified the connection between scale degrees, formal chord names, and Roman numerals
• identified Roman numerals of chords within the major and minor keys
• recognized chords that are stable versus unstable within a scale

In the upcoming lesson, you will learn about diatonic triads