Roman numeral analysis

Roman numeral analysis is a method used by musicians to understand and describe the harmonic structure of a piece of music. It labels each chord within a key using Roman numerals: uppercase for major chords, lowercase for minor, and additional symbols for other qualities. This system helps identify the function and relationship of chords—such as tonic (home base), dominant (leading to resolution), or subdominant (preparing for movement)—making it easier to analyze, compare, and communicate musical progressions across different pieces.