Augmented 6th chords?!
Question: Does anyone know how to construct German, Italian, and French augmented sixth chords?
What context would you use them? What progressions? etc
Answers: Does anyone know how to construct German, Italian, and French augmented sixth chords?
What context would you use them? What progressions? etc
Augmented 6th chords are characterized by the lowered (minor) 6th step of the scale and the raised (augmented) 4th step. The normal arrangement of all three chords is with the minor 6th in the bass and the augmented 4 in an upper voice.
Working from the bass upward:
Italian sixth: (Ab, C, C (unison) , F#)
(also called augmented sixth, and built on the IV chord)
German sixth: (Ab , C , Eb , F#)
(also called augmented six-five-three, - built on the IV chord)
(this can also be spelled using a D# in place of the Eb which changes the voice leading and resolution)
French sixth: (Ab , C , D , F#)
(also called augmented six-four-three, - built on the ii chord)
In regular resolution the chords act as a sub-dominant to dominant chord progression (IV-V) or as a sub-dom. to tonic six-four to dominant progression ( IV - I 6/4 - V ).
In the cases above (key of C) the Ab would resolve down to G and the F# up to G with the remaining voices moving to the nearest remaining dominant chord member (B or D) ,or the tonic (C in this case) acting as a suspension before being resolved.
Although having the flat 6th in the bass is most common, changing the placement of the notes does not affect the identity or function of the chords.
This is pretty basic. Other aspects of these chords, such as irregular resolutions, modulations, etc, are to lengthy to cover in this forum.
Hope this helps.
Musician, published composer, teacher.
Wouldn't an augmented 6th just be a normal 7th chord?
do you own homework and learn something from it.