Which scale degrees are the most common sources of predominant harmony?

Which scale degrees are the most common sources of predominant harmony?

• A. The first and fifth scale degrees
• B. The second and fourth scale degrees
• C. The third and sixth scale degrees
• D. The second and seventh scale degrees

Answer: (B)

Predominant harmony is the way music prepares the move to the dominant, and the most reliable sources of that function come from chords built on the supertonic and subdominant, the second and fourth scale degrees. In a major key like C major, the supertonic chord is built on D and the subdominant on F. These chords tend to lead naturally toward the dominant (G) because they introduce motion and tension that begs resolution to the V, often heard in progressions like ii–V–I or IV–V–I. The supertonic provides a gentle push forward, while the subdominant sets up a stronger pull into the dominant by its position and voice-leading tendencies. The first and fifth degrees already serve tonic and dominant functions themselves, so they aren’t typically described as sources of predominant. The seventh degree aligns more with dominant-area functions, and the third or sixth degrees don’t provide the same clear, regular path to the dominant, which is why the second and fourth degrees are the best answer.

Predominant harmony is the way music prepares the move to the dominant, and the most reliable sources of that function come from chords built on the supertonic and subdominant, the second and fourth scale degrees. In a major key like C major, the supertonic chord is built on D and the subdominant on F. These chords tend to lead naturally toward the dominant (G) because they introduce motion and tension that begs resolution to the V, often heard in progressions like ii–V–I or IV–V–I. The supertonic provides a gentle push forward, while the subdominant sets up a stronger pull into the dominant by its position and voice-leading tendencies. The first and fifth degrees already serve tonic and dominant functions themselves, so they aren’t typically described as sources of predominant. The seventh degree aligns more with dominant-area functions, and the third or sixth degrees don’t provide the same clear, regular path to the dominant, which is why the second and fourth degrees are the best answer.