Lesson 16- Additional Six-Four Chords
Part I- Passing Six-Four chords
Passing refers to any stepwise motion. Thus the second inversion chord is the second chord in the progression, where the bass voice moves by step from chord to chord.
Fig.1 Passing six-four chord
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Part II- Pedal Six-Four Chords
The term "pedal" comes from organ terminology and refers to a technique found in many organ pieces. The organist plays one long note on the pedal board while the hands play a variety of chord changes. In any kind of music, a pedal tone is an unchanging bass note that is held during a number of chord changes.
The Pedal six-four will always have a bass note in common with the chords around it.
Fig.2 Pedal six-four chord
Listen:
Notice how the Bass note remains the C through all of the chords
Part III-Arpeggiated Six-Four Chords
The word "arpeggio"means a broken chord where all of the chord tones are not played at the same time.
Fig.3 Arpeggiated six-four chord
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Part IV- Additional uses for Six-Four Chords
Cadential six-four chords are most notably used in concertos during the cadenza, a solo virtuosic movement where the soloist gets a chance to show off his/he virtuosity. This solo is called the cadenza. The soloist is free to play the cadenza and at the end of the solo, the soloist will signify the end of the cadenza with I six-four V I.
Fig.4 Cadential six-four chord.
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