iii roman degree

The mediant — the most ambiguous, ethereal diatonic degree, halfway between tonic and dominant. It shares notes with both and never quite commits — dreamy.

Where it lives

4semitones from the tonic

Major mode

minor triad

Hear it in context: I-iii-vi-IV

I Cmaj

iii Em

vi Am

IV Fmaj

Piano sound loads on first tap. Resolved in the key of C — every chord links to its full analysis.

Progressions that use it

I-iii-vi-IV Extended ii–V–I Turnaround I-V-vi-iii I-iii-IV-V Extended Secondary-Dominant Turnaround I-IV-V-iii ii-#iio-iii-vi Extended Ragtime Turnaround