What is dominant in musical terms?

In musical terms, "dominant" refers to the fifth scale degree of a major or minor scale. It is one of the three main chords in tonal music, along with the tonic and subdominant. The dominant is considered to be the most important of the three chords, as it creates a sense of tension and leads back to the tonic.

The dominant chord is usually a major chord, built on the fifth scale degree. For example, in the key of C major, the dominant chord is G major. However, in some cases, the dominant chord can be a minor chord, such as in the key of A minor, where the dominant chord is E minor.

The dominant chord is often used in cadences, which are musical phrases that end on a strong beat. The most common cadence is the perfect authentic cadence, which consists of a dominant chord followed by a tonic chord. This cadence is used to create a sense of finality and resolution.

The dominant chord can also be used to create a sense of tension or anticipation. This is often done by delaying the resolution to the tonic chord. For example, a composer might use a dominant seventh chord, which is a dominant chord with an added seventh note, to create a sense of suspense.

The dominant chord is a versatile and important chord in tonal music. It can be used to create a variety of moods and effects, and it is an essential part of many musical compositions.