Resolving is a way to lead songs back to the
tonic or root.
It can be applied to single note applications, or it can be applied to chord
progressions. If you don't already know, the
7th degree is also called the
Leading Note because it leads back to the tonic. The leading note is a
half
step from the tonic, so when you resolve, you use half steps. In single
note applications it is pretty easy because you just have to think to play from
one fret down back to the tonic. When you play with chord resolutions it gets
a bit more complex.
Whenever a chord progression is being played, you are always trying to resolve
back to the tonic. Not every chord resolves directly to the tonic, but they
will resolve indirectly. Let me show what chords resolve directly to the tonic.
Chords that Resolve Directly to the Tonic
The chord that resolves to the tonic the best is formed from the 5th (V) degree
of the scale. The reason that this chord is the best is because it contains
the leading note (7th degree). In the Key of C, B is the leading note because
it is the note before C. Look at the chart below.
C Major Scale
| I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
VI |
VII |
Octave |
| C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
A |
B |
C |
C Major Notes
G Major Notes (V chord)
The Dominant Chords formed from the 5th degree resolve better than the plain
major chord because the b7 note that is added in dominant chords resolves to
the third of the tonic (in this case it is E), and the B is still in the chord
to resolve to the C. Look at the chart to see the notes.
C Major Notes
G7 Notes
Because the V chord resolves so nicely to the tonic (I chord), many songs
end with this progression because it is such a strong ending for songs.
The diminished 7th chord also resolves nicely to the tonic because it is formed
from the leading note (B). In the key of C, the diminished 7 is B diminished
7 which contains the notes B, D, F, Ab. This resolves nicely to the tonic
because the B resolves to the C (and Bb if you are playing a C7), the F resolves
to the E, and the Ab resolves to the G. Look at the chart below.
C7 Notes
B Diminished 7 Notes
The III chord will also resolve to the tonic. Just remember that it is minor
when you play it. It resolves best with just a plain minor chord to a I major
chord.
Chords that Resolve Directly to the V
The II chord resolves directly to the V chord (and therefore indirectly to
the tonic) because the II chord is the 5th degree from the V. In other words
it is the dominant of the dominant. If you took the V chord (G) and wrote out
its major scale the 5th degree of that scale (G major scale) is the same as
the II chord (in this case it is D). This is where we get the II-V-I Jazz Progression.
The IV chord also resolves nicely to the V chord but not as well as the II
chord. This is where we get the chords of the 12 bar blues (I-IV-V).
Other Chordal Resolutions
The VI chord resolves to the II chord because the VI chord is the dominant
of the II chord (just like the II is the dominant of the V). Remember that the
II and VI chords are minor chords.