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Increasing Tension
When two or more chords are used in a prolongation, usually the tension of the chords, and the pull to
return to the tonic, is stronger with the second of the two chords. The strongest tension is achieved with the
combination of  and  in the same chord. Generally will be introduced in the first chord - a
II or IV of some sort - and will be introduced later, producing a V or a VII chord. The following
example illustrates this. The first progression shown has two prolonging chords between two tonic triads.
The second progression uses the same chords, but reverses the order in which they are played. When the
chord which contains the leading note is played second, the listener is drawn forward much more strongly.
© 2005 Andrew Hodgson
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