What is an Applied Chord?

An applied chord is a chord that temporarily emphasizes or “applies to” a chord other than the main tonic of a key, making that chord briefly sound like a temporary tonal center. These chords function similarly to secondary dominants or secondary leading-tone chords because they create a strong pull toward a specific target chord within the progression.

For example, in the key of C major, the chord D major is not normally part of the C major scale. However, D major can function as V of V (V/V) because it acts as the dominant of the G major chord, which is the dominant in the key of C. When the D major chord resolves to G major, it temporarily highlights that chord before the music continues within the main key.

Applied chords are commonly used in classical, jazz, and popular music to add harmonic variety and strengthen motion within a progression. By temporarily treating another chord as a focal point, composers can create stronger tension and resolution without permanently changing the key.