5.3 Harmonic Progression

Root motion

Chords tend to progress by strong root movements: down a fifth (V–I, ii–V), down a third, or up a second. Descending-fifth motion is the strongest and most common.

The tonic-return

Progressions establish tonic, move through predominant and dominant, and return home. Retrogressions (like V–IV) are generally avoided in common-practice style.

Sequences

A sequence repeats a melodic/harmonic pattern at different pitch levels, such as a circle-of-fifths sequence (vi–ii–V–I), giving music momentum and unity.

Key terms

Root motion

strongest is down a fifth (V–I, ii–V)

Functional flow

tonic → predominant → dominant → tonic

Retrogression

backward motion (e.g., V–IV), usually avoided

Sequence

a pattern repeated at different pitch levels

Circle-of-fifths sequence

vi–ii–V–I (descending fifths)

Try an AP-style question

Which progression is most typical in common practice?

1. I–iii–V–vi
2. V–IV–I–ii
3. I–V–IV–I
4. I–IV–V–I