6.8 · The vi, ii, and iii Chords

iii stands in for I

iii shares two notes with I, so it can take I's place. In C, E G B holds I's E and G. It holds V's G and B too, so it sits between them and never pulls.

iii stands in for I

Two shared notes, one role. In C, I is C E G and iii is E G B. The E and G stay; C becomes B, and the chord turns minor.

C E GHome. E G BE and G stay. C becomes B: home's sound, minor, no pull.
C
C
F
G

I held for two chords, then IV and V.

C
Em
F
G

iii takes the second I: E and G keep sounding, and the loop moves without leaving home.

Two notes each way

iii holds two of I's notes and two of V's. In C, one note moves from I to iii, and one more from iii to V.

C E GHome. E G BE and G stay. C moves down to B.
E G BThe same chord again. G B DG and B stay. E moves down to D.

I to iii, and I to V

Both leave home. In C, count how much moves.

C
Em
C

One note moves, C to B. Minor, close to home, no pull.

C
G
C

Two notes move, C to B and E to D, and V pulls back.

iii connects I to vi

iii's root falls a fifth to vi. In C, E to A is the same fall as G to C, so I–iii–vi lands on the minor home instead of jumping to it.

C
Am

Home to the minor home in one move.

C
Em
Am

One note moves into iii, then E falls a fifth to A.

D
F#m
Bm
G
D
A

Elvis, in D. Chord two is iii, on the way to vi. The line ends hanging on V.

Game · iii or V?

1 / 5

Home, then one chord. Was it iii, or V?

Listen first. Then answer.

Quiz

1 / 3

iii in C major is…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.iii before IV →