Secondary dominant chords are one of the most useful concepts in harmony because they allow musicians to create stronger movement, tension, and emotional direction in chord progressions.
A secondary dominant chord is a dominant chord that temporarily targets a chord other than the main tonic. In simple terms, it acts like a “temporary V chord” for another chord inside the key.
For example, in the key of C Major:
C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim
The main dominant chord is:
G Major → C Major
because G is the V chord resolving to the I chord.
A secondary dominant creates another temporary pull:
D Major → G Major
Here, D Major acts as the dominant of G. Since G is the V chord in C Major, D Major is called:
V/V (five of five)
Secondary dominants add color and movement without completely changing the key.
What Are Secondary Dominant Chords?
A dominant chord is usually the fifth chord of a key and creates tension that resolves to the tonic.
In C Major:
- I = C Major
- V = G Major
The dominant chord:
G → C
creates a strong feeling of resolution.
A secondary dominant works the same way but points toward a chord other than the tonic.
For example:
C → D → G → C
The D Major chord is not naturally found in C Major.
The diatonic chord would normally be:
D minor
But by changing D minor into D Major, it creates a stronger pull toward G.
The progression becomes:
V/V → V → I
or:
D → G → C
The D Major chord is called a secondary dominant because it temporarily treats G as a tonic.
You can review the basic chord relationships behind this idea in the guide on chords in a major key.
How Secondary Dominants Work
The easiest way to understand secondary dominants is:
A secondary dominant is the dominant chord of another chord.
Every major or minor chord can have its own dominant chord.
For example:
In C Major:
- G is the dominant of C
- D is the dominant of G
- A is the dominant of Dm
- E is the dominant of Am
These temporary dominant relationships create stronger harmonic movement.
The formula is:
V of the target chord → target chord
Examples:
D → G
D is V of G.
A → Dm
A is V of D minor.
E → Am
E is V of A minor.
Understanding Secondary Dominant Symbols
Musicians use Roman numerals to show secondary dominants.
The format is:
V/x
The first part tells you the dominant chord.
The second part tells you the chord being targeted.
V/V
Meaning:
“Dominant of the dominant”
Example in C Major:
Target chord:
G Major (V)
Dominant of G:
D Major
So:
D → G
is:
V/V → V
V/ii
Meaning:
“Dominant of the second chord”
In C Major:
ii = D minor
The dominant of D minor is A Major.
So:
A → Dm
is:
V/ii → ii
V/vi
Meaning:
“Dominant of the sixth chord”
In C Major:
vi = A minor
The dominant of A minor is E Major.
So:
E → Am
is:
V/vi → vi
Secondary Dominant Examples in C Major
The key of C Major contains these chords:
C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim
Secondary dominants introduce temporary chords that are normally outside the key.
| Target Chord | Secondary Dominant | Roman Numeral | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| G Major | D Major | V/V | D → G |
| D Minor | A Major | V/ii | A → Dm |
| E Minor | B Major | V/iii | B → Em |
| F Major | C Major | V/IV | C → F |
| A Minor | E Major | V/vi | E → Am |
Notice that these secondary dominant chords often contain notes outside the original key.
For example:
C Major contains:
D minor:
D – F – A
But the secondary dominant:
A Major:
A – C# – E
contains C#, which is not in the key of C Major.
That extra note creates stronger tension toward D minor.
How to Find Secondary Dominants in Any Key
You can find secondary dominants using three steps.
Step 1: Choose the Chord You Want to Target
Example:
In C Major, choose:
A minor (vi)
Step 2: Find Its Dominant Chord
The dominant is the fifth chord above the target.
A minor:
A – B – C – D – E
The fifth note is E.
So the dominant chord is:
E Major
Step 3: Place It Before the Target Chord
The progression becomes:
E → Am
E is:
V/vi
This method works in any key.
You can learn more about chord construction and intervals in this guide on how chords are built.
How Musicians Use Secondary Dominants
Creating Stronger Chord Movement
Normal diatonic progressions can sometimes sound predictable.
Adding a secondary dominant creates extra direction.
Example:
Simple progression:
C – G – C
With secondary dominant:
C – D – G – C
The D Major chord creates more energy before reaching G.
Adding Emotional Tension
Secondary dominants can make a progression feel more dramatic because they temporarily introduce unexpected notes.
Example:
C – E – Am
The E Major chord creates a stronger pull toward Am.
Supporting Songwriting
Songwriters use secondary dominants to make simple chord progressions more interesting.
A progression like:
C – Am – F – G
can become:
C – E – Am – D – G
The added dominant chords create smoother connections.
Classical and Jazz Harmony
Secondary dominants are especially common in classical harmony and jazz because these styles frequently use temporary tonicization and complex chord movement.
Secondary Dominants vs Modulation
A common confusion is thinking secondary dominants change the key.
They usually do not.
A secondary dominant only creates temporary emphasis on another chord.
Example:
D → G → C
The D Major chord briefly highlights G, but the music remains in C Major.
A modulation, on the other hand, permanently changes the tonal center.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Confusing V/V With a New Key
V/V does not mean the song has changed key.
It simply means one chord is temporarily treated as a tonic.
Forgetting the Resolution
A secondary dominant usually has a clear destination.
For example:
D Major should resolve to:
G Major
If there is no target chord, it may simply be a dominant chord rather than a functional secondary dominant.
Treating Every Dominant Chord as Secondary
The normal V chord of a key is not secondary.
In C Major:
G → C
is the primary dominant.
Only chords that temporarily point to another chord are secondary dominants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a secondary dominant chord?
A secondary dominant chord is a dominant chord that temporarily targets a chord other than the main tonic. It creates extra tension and movement within a progression.
What does V/V mean in music?
V/V means “the dominant of the dominant.” In C Major, D Major is V/V because it resolves to G Major, the V chord.
How do secondary dominants resolve?
Secondary dominants usually resolve to the chord they temporarily tonicize. For example, V/V resolves to V.
Can secondary dominants appear in minor keys?
Yes. Secondary dominants can be used in both major and minor keys, although the chord choices may require altered notes.
Why are secondary dominants useful?
They add harmonic tension, create smoother transitions, and make chord progressions more interesting.
Liam Turner is a guitar theory writer and chord analysis specialist at Chord Calculator. He focuses on chord construction, music theory, scale relationships, harmony tools, and guitar learning resources for musicians, producers, songwriters, and beginners. Liam creates practical, easy-to-follow content around chord progressions, interval formulas, key analysis, and interactive music tools to help users better understand harmony, songwriting, and instrument practice.