Secondary dominants/slash notation in Elton John
Please see the section labelled "chorus" in the screenshot below:
My textbook labels these same chords as follows:
I V(2-4)/IV vi7 V(6-5) I(6-4) V11 V I
I have questions regarding the second and third chords (I haven't looked any further than that).
So, the second chord is the third inversion of the fifth of IV. In C, this would be a C chord with an G note in the root. If that is the case, then where did the b-flat note come from? I understand that b-flat is the minor 7th of C, so then would this be a dominant 7 chord? If so, then I am wondering why my textbook didn't notate it as such.
Moving on, this third chord is a vi7. A seventh from A is G, no? So, following my textbook, I would play A in the bass and something that included the g note in my right hand. But, in the screenshot, the youtuber just plays an F major chord in his right hand. Keep in mind that in the video (link:
(go to 29 seconds in)) these chords all sound accurate.
Any attempt to clear up my confusion is appreciated.
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So, the second chord is the third inversion of the fifth of IV. In C, this would be a C chord with an G note in the root.
No, third inversion (4/2) puts the seventh as the bass note of the chord (the root note of a C chord is always C, the bass note of a chord is its lowest sounding note). C/Bb = V4/2/IV in the key of C. (4/3 of a seventh chord is second inversion, and 6/5 is first inversion).
Moving on, this third chord is a vi7.
F/A is IV6 in C. There is a discrepancy between your textbook and the video.
So, following my textbook, I would play A in the bass and something that included the g note in my right hand.
Yes, if you were following your textbook (and not the video) you would play A-C-E-G. However, if you were following the video, you would play A-C-F (or some voicing similar). You will notice that you can fudge the resolution of the C/Bb chord to the Am7 if you wanted to because Am and F are somewhat interchangeable chords. So while normally a V4/2/IV would naturally lead to a IV6, you could substitute a vi7 (Am7) if you wanted to do so. If that's what your textbook (or teacher) is telling you to do, then that's what you should do for now.
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