4-Part Jazz Harmony > Theory Nuggets > Explanation N.4       



Explanation N.4

All V7 chords can be altered by flatting the 5^th. This increases dissonance, but improves voice leading, since the 5^th now moves down a ½ step to its resolution in I. Now, in second inversion, this chord is structurally identical to the root position chord. However, if the flat 5^th is considered as the root, then it resolves up a 4^th, and not down a ½ step. Therefore, the V7b5 has two options for resolution. 

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