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6.6.2 The V Chord ("The Five Chord") and Chord Resolution
Recall from Chapter 4 that, in melodic scales, two scale degrees (notes of the scale) “point” strongly towards scale degree 1, namely, its two neighbours, scale degree 2 (from above) and scale degree 7 (from below). Scale degrees 2 and 7 have both unrest and direction.
For example, in this scale:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
the note D strongly seeks resolution (unrest) down (direction) to C, and B strongly seeks resolution (unrest) up (direction) to C.
Unrest and direction.
In harmony a parallel situation obtains. But in harmony, only one chord, “points” strongly towards harmonic scale degree I, the chord with the tonic note as its root. This "pointing" chord demands "chord resolution":
The only chord in harmony that has both unrest and direction is the V chord (“the five chord”), and it demands to be resolved.