Irregular resolution

Article summary

In music, an irregular resolution is resolution by a dominant seventh chord or diminished seventh chord to a chord other than the tonic. Regarding the dominant seventh, there are many irregular resolutions including to a chord with which it has tones in common or if the parts move only a whole or half step. Consecutive fifths and octaves, augmented intervals, and false relations should still be avoided. Voice leading may cause the seventh to ascend, to be prolonged into the next chord, or to be unresolved. The following resolutions to a chord with tones in common have been identified: *Type I, in which the root motion descends by minor third. C, E, G, B would resolve to C , E, G, A; two tones are common, two voices move by half-step in contrary motion. *Type II, in which the root motion rises by minor third. C, E, G, B would resolve to D , E , G, B ; again, two tones are common, two voices move by half-step in contrary motion. *Type III, in which the root moves a tritone (two minor thirds) away. C, E, G, B would resolve to C , E, F , B = A ; again, two tones are common (with enharmonic change), two voices move by half-step in contrary motion. This is called tritone substitution when the target chord replaces (or is inserted before) the original chord in a chord progression.…

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