Lesson 35 Augmented sixth chords in context
Part I - Augmented chord types
There are three different types of augmented sixth chords. The first is the Italian sixth(It6). It is always a three-note chord. The chord tones are le, do, and fi. This is what the It6 looks like in three different keys.
The second second type of augmented sixth is the German sixth (Gr6). The german sixth is a four-note chord. The additional solfege syllable is me. making the full chord: le, do,me, and fi. some examples of the german sixth look like this:
The final type of augmented sixth chord is the French sixth (Fr6) This one instead of me has re. The French sixth looks like this in the same three keys:
Here. the Gr6 moves to the V7. all of the voices need to move, but it still works nicely because all of the voices only move by one step )or half-step).
In this example, the French sixth resolves to the I six-four. Again all of the voices resolve the way that they should. That is, the Alto resolves up, and the Bass resolves down.
Part III - The Enharmonic German Sixth
Here, the German sixth is spelled with a, E flat in the tenor.
Notice how the two do not sound any different at all. That is because they are the exact same chord spelled differently.
Fig.1 Italian sixth chords
Listen:
Fig.2 German sixth chords
Listen:
Fig.3 French sixth chords
Listen:
Part II - Voice leading in Augmented Sixth chords
Notice how between the vii°6/V and the It6 there are three common tones. This makes it great for part writing because three voices do not need to move.
Notice how between the vii°6/V and the It6 there are three common tones. This makes it great for part writing because three voices do not need to move.
Fig.4 Italian sixth chord in context
Listen:
Notice here between the VI and the Gr6, only the Alto needs to move.
Fig.5 German sixth chord in context
(here the alto note should be A, not F# in the VI chord)
(here the alto note should be A, not F# in the VI chord)
Listen:
Again, notice how only one voice needs to move from the vi to the Gr6
Fig.6 German sixth in context
Listen:
Here. the Gr6 moves to the V7. all of the voices need to move, but it still works nicely because all of the voices only move by one step )or half-step).
Fig.7 Voice leading with German Sixth
Listen:
In this example, the French sixth resolves to the I six-four. Again all of the voices resolve the way that they should. That is, the Alto resolves up, and the Bass resolves down.
Fig.8 French sixth in context
Listen:
Part III - The Enharmonic German Sixth
Here, the German sixth is spelled with a, E flat in the tenor.
Fig.9 resolution of Gr6 to six-four chord
Listen:
Here, it is spelled with a D sharp in the tenor, the enharmonic equivalent of E flat.
Fig.10 Enharmonic German sixth chord.
Listen:
