The Roman numerals and qualities of triads in major keys are as follows: Roman numerals of triads in major and minor keys. The solfège and scale degree of the roots are also labeled.Įxample 3. Some music theorists prefer to use only uppercase Roman numerals, a system which assumes chord quality is intuited in this textbook, we privilege the distinction of triadic qualities as denoted by uppercase and lowercase Roman numerals.Įxample 3 shows the triads and seventh chords of a G major scale, labeled with chord symbols and now Roman numerals (in blue). In the analysis of Western music, Roman numerals are generally placed below the bottom staff. Uppercase Roman numerals followed by a sign (for example, the rare V ) represent augmented triads. For example, in a major key, a chord built on the first scale degree, \hat1 or do, is identified as “I,” and a chord built on the second scale degree, \hat2 or re, is identified by the lowercase Roman numeral “ii.” Lowercase Roman numerals followed by a superscript “o” (such as vii o) represent diminished triads. Uppercase Roman numerals denote major triads, and lowercase Roman numerals denote minor triads. The number represented by the Roman numeral (see Example 1) corresponds to the scale degree of the chord’s root in whatever key the music is in. Roman numerals indicate three things: the scale degree of a chord’s root, the quality of the chord, and the chord’s inversion (see Inversion below). There is no such difference with lowercase Roman numerals. Handwritten uppercase Roman numerals have horizontal bars across the top and bottom of the numeral, in order to further distinguish between uppercase and lowercase ( Example 2). The difference between handwritten and typed Roman numerals. To type uppercase Roman numerals, use the uppercase Latin alphabet letters “I” and “V” likewise, for lowercase Roman numerals, type the lowercase “i” and “v.” The Roman numerals IV (4) and VI (6) are often confused to remember the difference, think of IV (4) as V minus I (5 minus 1), and VI (6) as V plus I (5 plus 1). The three columns of Example 1 show the Arabic numerals 1 through 7 alongside the corresponding uppercase and lowercase Roman numerals. Because Roman numerals convey the same information across major and minor key signatures, using them can save time in analyzing Western common practice music. Roman numerals identify the scale degree of the chord’s root, the chord’s quality, and any extensions or inversions the chord may include. Music theorists use Roman numerals to identify chords within the context of key signatures.
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