Noun
The fourth tone above, or fifth below, the tonic; -- so called as being under the dominant.
Source: Webster's dictionaryFor example, when C is the tonic, the fourth degree or subdominant is F. When D is the tonic, the fourth degree is G. While the note names remain constant, they may refer to different scale degrees, implying different intervals with respect to the tonic. Source: Internet
For instance, for a blues in the key of C, C is the tonic chord (I) and F is the subdominant (IV). Source: Internet
Beginning with Mozart and Clementi, there began a creeping colonization of the subdominant region (the ii or IV chord, which in the key of C major would be the keys of d minor or F major). Source: Internet
" Hound Dog ", with its unmodified 12-bar structure (in both harmony and lyrics) and a melody centered on flatted third of the tonic (and flatted seventh of the subdominant), is a blues song transformed into a rock and roll song. Source: Internet
As shown in the typical structure above, these are often closely related keys such as the relative dominant and subdominant, although the key structure of fugues varies greatly. Source: Internet
In very much conventionally tonal music, harmonic analysis will reveal a broad prevalence of the primary (often triadic) harmonies : tonic, dominant, and subdominant (i. Source: Internet