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→Harmonic Theory: Dominant Chord
The V chord is also called the Dominant chord.
fig 2
G C
V I
e--3-----------0-------------
b--3-----------1-------------
g--0-----------0-------------
d--0-----------2-------------
a--2-----------3-------------
e--3-------------------------
Here's a piece of tab. Above the tab lines there's the chord names - G and C. Below that are V and I. Tab or sheet music is often marked with these roman numerals to identify the harmonic function of that part of the music. This assumes that we are in the key of C Major. If for instance, we were in the key of G Major, the markings would instead be I and IV.
Given that any piece of music can have multiple ways to interpret the key and even which chords are being sounded, there is no one correct way to interpret the music. However, usually pieces tend to begin or end on the tonic note/chord. We can use that as a starting point, then analyze the harmonic movement we get. For the above example, if we were in the key of G Major, we'd have a I - IV transition, which is considered to build tension rather than relieve it. Using the key of C Major instead we have a V - I cadence, the strongest and most "satisfying" chord progression. So it makes more sense to assume we're in the key of C Major with a V - I chord progression.
== Strumming ==
The above example is pretty boring, both to listen and to play. Let's get into strumming.
fig 3
C |G |C |G |C
q q q q |h q q |h h |h. q |w
So admittedly this isn't the most entertaining chord progression or strumming pattern, but it adds more variety than figure 2. The chord changes each measure. The first measure is just 4 quarter notes - there is no rhythmic variation, just a direct on-beat strum. The 2nd measure mixes it up a little, using a half note for the first two beats, then 2 quarter notes to finish the measure. This gives a bit more emphasis to the downbeat.
The third measure has a note duration we haven't talked about yet. This is a dotted half note. Any note that has a dot behind it gets 1.5x its normal lengh. So a dotted half note lasts as long as one half note + one quarter note. A dotted quarter note lasts one quarter note + one eighth note. In this case, the dotted half note takes up the first 3 beats of the measure. The final measure is just a whole note on the C Major chord.
NOTE: I'm saying quarter ''note'' and half ''note'', but really you are strumming multiple notes that make up the chord. Saying "quarter note" is really just short-hand for saying "each note of the chord is a quarter note in length".
=== Swing-Feel ===