Augmented 6th Chords - Music Theory

Music Matters
6 Sept 201807:52
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video offers an insightful exploration into the world of augmented sixth chords, a group of chromatic chords that add color and interest to music by incorporating notes outside the key but with a functional role within it. The presenter explains the construction of these chords with a clear, step-by-step recipe using the key of C major as an example. Viewers learn about the different types of augmented sixth chords - Italian, French, and German - and their unique characteristics. The video also covers how these chords resolve, typically moving to chord V or Ic-V, and advises on their use in composition and recognition in performance, making it a valuable resource for musicians looking to enhance their understanding and application of chromatic harmony.

Takeaways
  • 😀 Augmented sixth chords are chromatic chords that add color to music even though they use notes outside the key.
  • 🎹 To build an augmented sixth chord: start with the lowered 6th scale degree, add the note an augmented 6th above it, put the tonic in the middle.
  • 🎼 The 3 types of augmented 6th chords are: Italian (basic), French (add augmented 4th above bass note), German (add perfect 5th above bass).
  • 🎵 Augmented 6th chords typically move to V or Ic then V chords.
  • 😊 They add nice color to compositions and playing.
  • 🤔 Recognize them when you see unusual notes like A-flats and F-sharps in C Major.
  • 🎶 The French sixth chord has a nice augmented fourth interval in it.
  • ⚠️ Watch out for consecutive fifths when moving from a German sixth to a V chord.
  • 📝 Use augmented sixth chords to make your compositions less plain harmonically.
  • 🙂 Get familiar and happy with augmented sixth chords!
Q & A

  • What are augmented sixth chords?

    -Augmented sixth chords are a group of chromatic chords that use notes outside the key to add color and function within the key. They are considered 'chromatic' because they contain notes not belonging to the main key.

  • What are the three types of augmented sixth chords?

    -The three types of augmented sixth chords are: the Italian sixth, the French sixth, and the German sixth. They are all built off the same basic augmented sixth chord but with additional notes added.

  • How do you construct an augmented sixth chord?

    -The recipe for constructing an augmented sixth chord is: 1) Start with the lowered sixth degree of the scale, 2) Find the note that is an augmented sixth above it, and 3) Put the tonic note in the middle between those two notes.

  • What's the difference between the Italian, French and German sixth chords?

    -The Italian sixth is just the basic augmented sixth chord. The French sixth adds in the augmented fourth above the bass note. The German sixth adds in the perfect fifth above the bass note.

  • How do you handle augmented sixth chords in a minor key?

    -In a minor key, you don't need to lower the sixth degree of the scale since it is already a flattened note. So just take the sixth degree of the minor scale as the starting point.

  • Where do augmented sixth chords tend to resolve to?

    -Augmented sixth chords usually resolve to the dominant chord (V) or sometimes to the tonic chord (Ic) preceding the dominant.

  • Why are augmented sixth chords considered 'chromatic'?

    -Augmented sixth chords contain notes that are not in the main key signature, so they are considered chromatic in that sense. The lowered sixth scale degree specifically is a chromatic note.

  • What's an easy way to add interest and color to a composition?

    -Adding an augmented sixth chord here and there in a composition is an easy way to add harmonic interest and color without drastically changing the overall key or harmony.

  • What might cause consecutive fifths with a German sixth chord?

    -When a German sixth resolves to a dominant chord, consecutive fifths might occur between the bass notes. Going to a tonic chord before the dominant avoids this issue.

  • How can you recognize augmented sixth chords while playing music?

    -If you see notes like the lowered sixth scale degree, augmented fourths/sixths, and other chromatic notes that seem out of place, it may indicate the presence of an augmented sixth chord.

Outlines
00:00
🎵 What Augmented Sixth Chords Are and How to Construct Them

This paragraph introduces augmented sixth chords, explaining that they are chromatic chords that add color to a key. It then provides a 3-step recipe for constructing an augmented sixth chord: 1) Lower the sixth degree of the scale by a semitone, 2) Find the note that forms an augmented sixth interval above the lowered sixth degree, 3) Put the tonic in the middle between those two notes. This forms the basis of an augmented sixth chord, which can take on Italian, French, or German forms.

05:03
🎹 How to Use Augmented Sixth Chords in Progressions

This paragraph explains how augmented sixth chords tend to resolve to chord V or Ic-V when used in progressions. It demonstrates this resolution with examples of Italian, French, and German augmented sixth chords. It notes to be careful with the German sixth resolving directly to chord V due to possible consecutive fifths, making Ic-V a better option. The paragraph concludes by encouraging the use of these colorful chords in compositions and playing.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Augmented sixth chord
An augmented sixth chord is a type of chromatic chord that contains an augmented sixth interval. As the narrator explains, these chords use notes that don't belong to the key but add color and interest. For example, the chord contains an A-flat, which is not in the key of C major. Augmented sixth chords tend to resolve to the dominant chord (V) or tonic chord (I) to add tension and interest before the resolution.
💡Chromatic chord
A chromatic chord uses notes that are not part of the main key but are borrowed from other keys. As stated in the video, they "use notes that don't really belong to the key." The augmented sixth chords mentioned are examples of chromatic chords that add color to the music.
💡Italian sixth
The Italian sixth is one of the three types of augmented sixth chords. It contains the basic augmented sixth interval between the A-flat and F-sharp along with the C tonic in the middle. The video shows how the Italian sixth resolves to the dominant V chord.
💡French sixth
The French sixth augments the Italian sixth by adding a note that is an augmented fourth above the bass note (A-flat). This creates a tense, dissonant sound that wants to resolve. As shown, the French sixth resolves to the dominant V chord.
💡German sixth
The German sixth augments the Italian sixth by adding a note that is a perfect fifth above the bass note (A-flat). This also creates a dissonant sound. The video warns that the German sixth can sometimes result in consecutive fifths when resolving, so going to Ic before V is recommended.
💡Lowered sixth degree
This refers to flatting the sixth scale degree, which is the first step in building an augmented sixth chord. In C major, you lower the A natural to A-flat. This lowered sixth degree is key to the augmented sound of the chord.
💡Augmented sixth interval
This interval between the lowered sixth degree (A-flat) and another note (F-sharp) is the foundation of the augmented sixth chords. This dissonant, augmented interval wants to resolve inward by half-step to an octave or unison.
💡Tonic
The tonic refers to the first degree of the scale and key - in this case C. The tonic is placed in the middle of the augmented sixth chord (between A-flat and F-sharp) which contributes to its tendency to resolve to the C major tonic chord.
💡Dominant chord (V)
The dominant chord (V) is the fifth chord in the key, which has a strong tendency to resolve to the tonic chord. As explained, augmented sixth chords usually resolve to V before resolving to I (tonic). The dominant creates tension that leads to resolution.
💡Consecutive fifths
Consecutive fifths refers to progressing from one chord to another that results in adjacent fifth intervals between the chords. The video warns that incorrectly resolving from a German sixth can sometimes create consecutive fifths, which is why resolving to Ic before V is recommended.
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Transcripts

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