In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. For example, in the C major scale (white keys on a piano), the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D. In music theory, the dominant chord in its root position is symbolized with the Roman numeral V if major and v if minor.
As defined by Joseph Fetis the dominante was a seventh chord over the first note of a descending perfect fifth in the basse fondamentale or root progression, the common practice period dominant seventh he named the dominante tonique.
"Dominant" also refers to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of C major, the key of G major is the dominant. Music which modulates (changes key) often modulates into the dominant. Modulation into the dominant key often creates a sense of increased tension; as opposed to modulation into subdominant (fourth note of the scale), which creates a sense of musical relaxation.
See also
Dominant seventh chord
Source
Dahlhaus, Carl. Gjerdingen, Robert O. trans. (1990). Studies in the Origin of Harmonic Tonality, p.143. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691091358.
Modulation into the dominant key often creates a sense of increased tension; as opposed to modulation into subdominant (fourth note of the scale), which creates a sense of musical relaxation (because the tonic key is the dominant of its subdominant key: in F major, the dominant is C).
The dominant may also be considered the result of a transformational operation applied to the tonic that most closely resembles the tonic by some clear-cut criteria such as common tones (Perle 1955 cited in Wilson 1992, p.37-38).
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