Part II

iii Chord

ii7-examples

Care needs to be taken when using the iii chord. If your tempted to use iii, try I6 first to see if that works instead.

If you are specifically asked to use it, in root position, double the root of the chord. Here iii can easily move to vi.

The iii chord can also move to IV, but watch for potential parallel fifths and octaves. Its main use here is to harmonize a descending scale starting on the tonic in one of the voices, typically the soprano.

In first inversion, double the third of the chord. As shown in the last example, iii6 can be used as a substitute for V. Before committing yourself to iii6, try V or the cadential six-four chord first to see if that might be a better choice.

In Grade 4 Harmony, we will revisit the iii chord with alternate interpretations of iii-IV and iii6 - I. 



	  B - C (s)
          G - A (s)
          E - E (ct)
-----    ------
Bass:     E - A
C+:      iii -vi




        C - B - A  <- descending scale from the tonic
        G - G - F
        E - E - C
-----  -----------
Bass:   C - E - F
        I - iii- IV



                OR
        B - C       B  -  C
        G - E       G  -  E
        E - C       E -D- C
-----  ------       -------
Bass:   G - C       G  -  C
C+:   iii6- I      iii6-V-I 
                    V 6-5-I  <- alternative interpretation