In music, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. It is called the subdominant because it is the same distance below the tonic that the dominant is above the tonic. In the C major scale (white keys on a piano), the subdominant is the note F; and the subdominant chord uses the notes F, A, and C. In music theory, the subdominant chord is symbolized with the Roman numeral IV if major and iv if minor. In music theory, a diatonic scale (from the Greek diatonikos, to stretch out; also known as the heptatonia prima; set form 7-35) is a seven-note musical scale comprising five whole-tone and two half-tone steps, in which the half tones are maximally separated. ... The tonic is the first note of a musical scale, and in the tonal method of music composition it is extremely important. ... In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. ... In music theory, the major scale (or major mode) is one of the diatonic scales. ... In music and music theory, a chord (from the Middle English cord) short for accord is three or more different notes or pitches sounding simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, over a period of time. ... Music theory is a field of study that describes the elements of music and includes the development and application of methods for analyzing and composing music, and the interrelationship between the notation of music and performance practice. ...

A cadential subdominant chord followed by a tonic chord (the chord of the key of the piece) produces the so-called "plagal" (or "Amen") cadence. In Western musical theory a cadence (Latin cadentia, a falling) is a particular series of intervals or chords that ends a phrase, section, or piece of music. ...

"Subdominant" also refers to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of C major, the key of F major is the subdominant. Music which modulates (changes key) often modulates into the subdominant. Modulation into the subdominant key often creates a sense of musical relaxation; as opposed to modulation into dominant (fifth note of the scale), which increases tension. In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the scale. ...

In sonata form, the subdominant key plays a subordinate though still crucial role: typically, in the recapitulation, there is a section written in the subdominant key, occurring at the point corresponding to the location in the exposition where the music modulated into the dominant key. The use of the subdominant in this location often serves as a way of keeping the rest of recapitulation in the tonic. Sonata form refers to both the standard layout of an entire musical composition and more specifically to the standardized form of the first movement. ... Recapitulation is the term used by Irenaeus to describe the manner in which God interacts with the world towards the final goal in space and time of mans salvation and redemption. ... An exposition may be one of the following: In music an exposition is the first of the sections in sonata allegro form. ...

The subdominant diatonic function acts as a dominant preparation and in theories after Hugo Riemann is considered to balance the dominant around the tonic. See also: function and functional. ... Dr. Hugo Riemann (full name: Karl Wilhelm Julius Hugo Riemann) (July 18, 1849 - July 10, 1919) was a German musicologist. ...