Text: Chords are named on two principles: (1) by the largest interval contained in their component notes; (2) by the largest interval they contain when referred to their supposed fundamental-bass or root. On the former of these principles sevenths have been divided into primary and secondary; primary being those which have the tonic or dominant for thier bass note; secondary, those which have the second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh of the scale for their bass. The seventh from the tonic sometimes ascends and sometimes descends. In the former case it is called the suspended leading-note or sub-tonic; in the latter, the chord of the tonic seventh.

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Source: 125