5021 / 18210 · Workshop 33 — “Dolphin Dance”: Ambiguous Tonal Centers, Lydian Colors, Slash Chords, and Harmony That Changes Its Meaning While You Listen← prev⊞ allnext →
33.21Level 9 — pivot sonority
A pivot is something that can belong meaningfully to more than one harmonic environment.
Traditionally that might be a diatonic chord shared by two keys.
In modern harmony it can also be:
- common-tone voicing
- slash chord
- pedal structure
- ambiguous upper structure
It acts as a bridge.