Harmonic Functions

Harmonic Function is the feeling or emotion that certain chords transmit.

Transmits a feeling of rest, stability, and conclusion.

Transmits instability, tension and wants to resolve to the tonic.

Transmits a feeling in between a Tonic and Dominant and can lead to either.

This is the dominant of a chord that is not the tonic. It is used to really spice up a progression. It can also prolong the sense of tension in a song if you precede a Dominant with its own Dominant.

It is very common to hear a progression of C-E-Am. E is out of key in C Ionian, yet it sounds really great. That E is pulled from another scale, A Minor, and is Am's Dominant.