Secondary dominant

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A major triad or major/minor 7th chord that is a perfect 5th above a pitch in the key other than the tonic. It serves the dominant function to that pitch, or a chord built on it. It is an altered chord, with a raised third that is the note a half-step below the pitch which is tonicized. In F major, a D major chord is the secondary dominant of the note G, referred to as “five of two.” It is also referred to as an applied dominant.

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