Weak Resolutions

[boten]

Hi Willie,
I was going through the new DVD on Georgia on My Mind and in chapter 7 you talk about how the D- to C7 is a weak resolution (towards the end of the song). It didn't feel that bad to my ears, is this because the VIm is not considered a subdominant chord? Can you expand a little bit about weak and strong resolutions?
Thanks!

[williemyette]

Yeah, it is not bad, but weak because resolution of chords can move from strong to weak:


Motion by a fourth/fifth = strong
Motion by 3rds = weaker
Motion by a step = weak

Of course...this needs to be taken with a "grain of salt"

For instance, C | D- | E- | FMaj sounds very nice even though it is stepwise motion.

[boten]

Thanks Willie, very useful clarification.