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Key Takeaways

The iii chord (III in minor) is a weak predominant that typically moves through a strong predominant on the way to a V chord.
In major, iii usually harmonizes a descending ti $(\hat7)$ ; similarly, in minor, III usually harmonizes a descending te $(\downarrow\hat7)$ .
iii/III is usually found in root position.
iii is not used as a substitute for I⁶ (see the explanation below Example 1).
iii is not not a very common chord.

Chapter Playlist

Overview: the iii chord

\[(\hat7/\downarrow\hat7)\]

A link to an interactive elements can be found at the bottom of this page.

Example 1. The iii chord in Koji Kondo’s Athletic Theme from Super Mario 3 (4:19–4:24).

\[(\hat1-\hat2-\hat3)\]

Writing with iii

\[(\hat{6})\]

\[(\downarrow\hat{7})\]

A link to an interactive elements can be found at the bottom of this page.

Example 2. Writing with iii going to a strong predominant.

\[(\downarrow\hat{7})\]

A link to an interactive elements can be found at the bottom of this page.

Example 3. Writing with iii going to V.

Assignments

Mi $(\hat3)$ in the bass at beginnings (.pdf, .docx). Asks students to realize unfigured bass, analyze, and do a transcription with analysis.

This page titled 4.12: The Mediant Harmonizing Mi (Scale Degree 3) in the Bass was last modified on Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:59:39 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Mark Gotham, Kyle Gullings, Chelsey Hamm, Bryn Hughes, Brian Jarvis; Megan Lavengood, and John Peterson via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.