BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
5226 / 18210 · Workshop 35 — “Stella by Starlight”: Ambiguous Function, Deceptive Resolutions, Local Key Centers, and Navigating When the Harmony Refuses to Behave← prev⊞ allnext →

35.43Level 19 — identify function from resolution behavior

Ask of any dominant-type chord:

  1. Does its bass resolve by fifth?
  2. Does it resolve down a semitone as tritone substitute?
  3. Do its 3rd/7th resolve conventionally?
  4. Does melody reinforce that destination?
  5. If not, is it simply a color/connector?

This is a good diagnostic framework.