Harmonic

Functions on the Major Cosmic

There are two basic ways of reasoning your way through the cosmic structure: 1) by
considering each chord type and how it can function, and 2) by considering each
note in the chromatic scale and what chord or chords might occur on it. As you read
this explanation of both approaches, make sure and have a major cosmic handy.



Chord type analysis

1. MAJOR 7ths

There are only two major 7th chords on the entire cosmic: the I chord and the
IV chord. Major 7ths don’t function as moons at all. If you encounter a major
7th chord other than a I or a IV in a tune, there are a few possible
explanations, but it might well signal a change of the general key, in which
the major 7th is the I in the new key.

2. MINOR 7ths

There are only four minor 7th chords on the entire cosmic (or five, depending
on how you count), and three of them are planets: the II, the III, and the VI.
The other one is the II of IV, which is a minor 7th chord built on the 5th note of
the general key. There’s also a II of V, which is the same chord as the VI
planet, but it serves a different function and is in a different key than the VI.

3. MINOR 7b5s

There are only three minor 7b5 chords - or four, depending on how you
count. There’s the VII planet, but it’s crossed out because it will never really
function that way. That leaves the II of II, the II of III, and the II of VI. So
minor 7b5 chords always function as II’s of minor planets.

4. DIMINISHED 7ths

There are only three diminished 7th chords on the entire cosmic, and they all
function as VII’s of minor planets – VII of II, VII of III, and VII of VI. They’re all
just a half step below their respective planets.




 5. DOMINANT 7ths

All twelve dominant 7ths appear on the major cosmic. Each of them functions as
either a “V of something” or as a “bII of something.” The V chords will resolve
down a 5th to their destinations, and the bII chords will resolve down a ½-step to
their destinations. It’s easy to determine which resolution will tend to happen in
each case. A dominant 7th will tend to resolve to a note that is in the general key,
and will do so by going down a 5th (as a V) or by going down a ½-step (as a bII).

Dominant 7th functions on the C major cosmic

Chord Function Key Comments
Db7 bII none Down a 5th (to Gb) takes you out of the key
D7 V of V G Down a ½ step (to Db) takes you out of the key
Eb7 bII of II none Down a 5th (to Ab) takes you out of the key
E7 V of VI A mi Down a ½ step (to Eb) takes you out of the key
F7 bII of III none Down a 5th (to Bb) takes you out of the key
Gb7 bII of IV none Down a 5th (to B) takes you VII, which doesn’t exist
G7 V C Down a ½ step (to Gb) takes you out of the key
Ab7 bII of V none Down a 5th (to Db) takes you out of the key
A7 V of II D mi Down a ½ step (to Ab) takes you out of the key
Bb7 bII of VI none Down a 5th (to Eb) takes you out of the key
B7 V of III E mi Down a ½ step (to Bb) takes you out of the key
C7 V of IV F Down a ½ step (to B) takes you to VII, which doesn’t exist




Here’s a summary of the above chord type analysis:

Chord type Probable function
Major 7 1. Diatonic (I, IV)
Minor 7 1. Diatonic (II, III, VI)
2. II of a major planet (II of IV or II of V)
Dominant 7 1. Diatonic (V)
2. bII
3. V or bII of a major or minor planet
Minor 7 b5 1. II of a minor planet
Diminished 7 1. VII of a minor planet








Chromatic root analysis

Scale degree Probable function Chord type Goes to….
I 1. I 1. Major 7 1. anywhere
2. V of IV 2. Dominant 7 2. IV root
#I or bII 1. bII 1. Dominant 7 1. I root
2. VII of II 2. Diminished 7 2. II root
II 1. II 1. Minor 7 1. anywhere
2. V of V 2. Dominant 7 2. V root (although often to II first)
#II or bIII 1. bII of II 1. Dominant 7 1. II root
2. VII of III 2. Diminished 7 2. III root
III 1. III 1. Minor 7 1. anywhere
2. V of VI 2. Dominant 7 2. VI root
3. V of II, VII of II, bII of II
3. II of II 3. Minor 7 b5
IV 1. IV 1. Major 7 1. anywhere
2. bII of III 2. Dominant 7 2. III root
#IV or bV 1. bII of IV 1. Dominant 7 1. IV root
2. II of III 2. Minor 7 b5 2. V of III, VII of III, bII of III
V 1. V 1. Dominant 7 1. anywhere
2. II of IV 2. Minor 7 2. V of IV or bII of IV
#V or bVI 1. bII of V 1. Dominant 7 1. V root
2. VII of VI 2. Diminished 7 2. VI root
VI 1. VI 1. Minor 7 1. anywhere
2. V of II 2. Dominant 7 2. II root
3. II of V 3. Minor 7 3. V of V or bII of V
#VI or bVII 1. bII of VI 1. Dominant 7 1. VI root
VII 1. V of III 1. Dominant 7 1. III root
2. II of VI 2. Minor 7 b5 2. V of VI, VII of VI, bII of VI