Modulation using the German 6th Chord - Music Theory

Music Matters
21 Nov 201906:12
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video explains how to use German sixth chords to add color and modulate between distant keys. It first defines the structure of German sixth chords, constructed with the minor sixth, augmented sixth, tonic, and perfect fifth above the chord root in a given key. Normally, these chords precede V or Ic-V progressions. However, by enharmonically altering one note in the chord, composers can suddenly modulate to remote keys with ease. As an example, transforming the German sixth chord's F-sharp to G-flat turns it into a dominant seventh that resolves deceptively to D-flat major, rapidly moving 5 flats away from the original C major key.

Takeaways
  • 😀 Modulation was relatively constrained in the Baroque/Classical eras, usually moving to closely related keys.
  • 😉 Augmented 6th chords like the German 6th provided more options for modulation in the 19th century.
  • 🤔 The German 6th chord contains the minor 6th, augmented 6th, tonic and perfect 5th above the bass note.
  • 🧐 The German 6th can be preceded by V or Ic-V when used for color in the home key.
  • 🤨 The German 6th can modulate quickly to distant keys via enharmonic respelling.
  • 😮 The German 6th in C becomes a dominant 7th in Db with respelling.
  • 😲 Respelling F# to Gb jumps 5 flats from C major to Db major.
  • 😄 Pivot chords allow modulation through common chords between keys.
  • 🙂 Chromatic chords like the German 6th enabled more direct modulation.
  • 😊 The German 6th's enharmonic flexibility aids modulation to distant keys.
Q & A

  • What keys might a Baroque or Classical composer modulate to from the key of C major?

    -A Baroque or Classical composer would typically modulate to nearby keys from C major, such as G major (adding one sharp), F major (adding a flat), or A minor (the relative minor).

  • What is a 'pivot chord' and how is it used in modulation?

    -A pivot chord is a chord that belongs to both the original key and the new key in a modulation. Composers use pivot chords to smoothly transition between keys during a modulation.

  • What is an augmented sixth chord?

    -An augmented sixth chord is a chromatic chord that contains an augmented sixth interval above the bass note. It has a strong pull to resolve outward to an octave.

  • How do you construct a German sixth chord?

    -To construct a German sixth chord, start with the minor sixth scale degree as the bass note. Then add an augmented sixth interval above that, the tonic in the middle, and a perfect fifth above the bass note.

  • How can a German sixth chord be used in a typical progression?

    -A German sixth chord can be used before a dominant chord or Ic-V progression to add color and interest right before a cadence.

  • How can you modulate quickly from C major to D-flat major using a German sixth chord?

    -Rename the F-sharp in a C major German sixth chord to G-flat. This transforms the chord into a D-flat major dominant seventh, allowing modulation by reinterpreting one note.

  • What are some typical ways a German sixth chord resolves?

    -A German sixth chord typically resolves to a dominant chord (V) or a Ic-V progression in the home key. But it can also resolve deceptively or be reinterpreted to modulate.

  • Why were chromatic chords like augmented sixth chords more widely used in the 19th century?

    -Composers in the 19th century became more interested in using chromatic harmony and exploring remote key relationships. Augmented sixth chords helped facilitate this.

  • How does using a German sixth chord add interest before a cadence?

    -A German sixth chord adds a striking chromatic sound and strong pull to resolve before a cadence. This builds tension and interest right before the final melodic resolution.

  • What are some other types of augmented sixth chords besides the German sixth?

    -Other common types of augmented sixth chords include the Italian sixth and French sixth. They are constructed slightly differently but also facilitate modulation.

Outlines
00:00
😃 Introducing modulation and the German sixth chord

This paragraph provides background on modulation in Baroque and Classical music, which tended to modulate to nearby keys using pivot chords. It then introduces the German sixth chord as a chromatic chord that can be used in a key before a V or Ic-V progression.

05:00
😲 Using the German sixth to modulate from C major to D-flat major

This paragraph explains how to modulate from C major to the distant key of D-flat major using the German sixth chord. By enharmonically renaming F-sharp to G-flat, the chord transforms into a dominant seventh in D-flat. This enables a smooth and quick modulation between these distant keys.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡modulation
Modulation refers to the process of transitioning from one key to another in a musical composition. In this video, the narrator discusses how modulation techniques have evolved from the Baroque and Classical eras, where composers would only modulate to closely related keys, to more daring and remote key changes in later periods. He then focuses specifically on how the German sixth chord can facilitate modulation as an enharmonic pivot chord.
💡German sixth chord
The German sixth chord is a type of augmented sixth chord that contains the notes of a minor sixth, augmented sixth, root (tonic), and perfect fifth above the bass note. It has a distinctive sound and can be used as a colorful chromatic chord within a key. The narrator shows how it is constructed in the key of C major and demonstrates its sound.
💡pivot chord
A pivot chord is a chord that belongs to both the original key and the target key when modulating. It serves as a bridge between keys and facilitates a smooth modulation. The narrator mentions pivot chords as traditionally being necessary for distant modulations before later harmonic developments.
💡enharmonic
An enharmonic note or interval sounds the same pitch but is spelled differently. For example, F# and Gb are enharmonic equivalents. The narrator shows how the German sixth chord can be altered enharmonically to instantly modulate to a distant key, like modulating from C major to Db major just by respelling one note.
💡chromatic chord
Chromatic chords contain notes that are not diatonic to the key and add color and interest. Both the augmented sixth chords and the German sixth more specifically are examples of chromatic chords that composers started utilizing more leading into the Romantic period.
💡tonic
The tonic refers to the first scale degree and key note of a key. So in the key of C major, the tonic is C. When constructing the German sixth chord, the narrator specifies starting with the minor sixth above the tonic, and putting the tonic itself in the middle of the chord.
💡cadence
A cadence refers to the ending progression of two chords providing harmonic closure. The narrator shows how the German sixth can resolve to a dominant or Ic-V-I cadence to color the approach.
💡relative minor
The relative minor key shares the same key signature as the major key. For example, A minor is the relative minor of C major. The narrator mentions modulating to the relative minor key as being a common and close modulation in earlier music.
💡augmented sixth interval
An augmented sixth interval spans nine staff positions. It is a dissonant interval that wants to expand or resolve outward. Building augmented sixth intervals into chords (like the German sixth) adds tension and interest.
💡voice leading
Voice leading refers to how individual musical lines or voices move from one chord to the next. Although not stated outright, an advantage of the German sixth chord is that it often has smooth voice leading into the following tonic chord.
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Transcripts

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