Augmented 6th Chords Flashcards
How many different Augmented 6th chords are there?
Italian, French, and German.
Construct an Italian Augmented 6th chord?
Of the three Augmented 6th chords, this chord is based on the IV triad in First Inversion: b6, 1, and #4 (three distinct pitches). In minor key, only the top voice is raised to a #4. In four-part writing (SATB) style, the tonic is doubled.
Between what two notes is the tritone created in the It.+6?
Do and Fi; the 1 and #4 create an Augmented 4th.
Construct a German Augmented 6th chord?
The chord is based the iv7 chord in First Inversion: b6, 1, b3, #4. In Major Key, the chord is constructed as an altered ii7 chord in Second Inversion, better to think of the b3 Enharmonically spelled as a #2. So the ii7 chord can be seen as a “sharp” ii7 chord in Second Inversion.
Between what two notes is the tritone created in the Ger.+6?
Do and Fi; the 1 and #4 create an Augmented 4th.
Construct a French Augmented 6th chord?
The chord is based on the ii7 chord in Second Inversion:
b6, 1, 2, #4
Between what two notes is the tritone created in the Fr.+6?
Le and Re; the b6 and the 2 create an Augmented 4th.
True or False: In classical composition, the Ger.+6 chord can be voiceled to V7.
False. The Ger.+6 typically progresses to the cadential i6/4 chord before moving to the V7 in order to avoid parallel 5th motion if it progresses directly to the V7; b3 (from the Ger.+6) moves down to the 2 (in the V7) and b6 (from the Ger.+6) moves down to the 5 (in the V7), creating a potential parallel 5th motion.
