Mediant Triad

Complexity : Intermediate

This is the III chord. Its nature is minor in the major scale and augmented in the minor scale. (and major in the melodic minor context).

USAGE
- The chord may be preceded and followed by chords that have a note in common with it. V-III-VI is a useful progression.
- IIIa can also be used to harmonize the leading note in a descending scalic passage, preceded by I or VI and followed by IV.
- Descending scale passages can also be harmonized with a series of first inversions of which IIIb may be a component.
- An extremely important use of IIIb occurs when the melody ends in a mediant to tonic. The best harmonization here is IIIb-I for a perfect cadence (or IIIb-VI/IIIb-Ib for an intermediate cadence). Here IIIb is used as a substitute for Va.