HOSTS- Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips
TYPE- Theory
DURATION- 53:00
BUMPER MUSIC- "Augment This" (Area 47)
ANNOUNCER- Mike Cunliffe
In episode 65, we discussed the Italian, French and German augmented 6th chords and their main functions. In this episode, we'll dig a little deeper into these chords and talk about some other functions and placement options that can really color your chord progressions!
Typically, any form of the AUGMENTED 6th (+6) precedes the DOMINANT (V) chord. It is said to have a PREDOMINANT function. Below, we will see a few examples where they behave a little differently.
+6 AS A NEIGHBOR CHORD OF V
-As we've discussed, a NEIGHBOR TONE moves up, or down, by step and returns to it's place of origin.
-In the example below, we see this German +6 chord acting as a NEIGHBOR CHORD to the V. It follows and returns to the V, thereby embellishing this predominant moment. Also, notice that the
"Gr+6" symbol is used both above (letter chords) and below (harmonic progression). We don't make a distinction, in this case, because they don't represent any scale degree.
+6 MOVING TO SECONDARY CHORDS
-Sometimes, another chord will come between the +6 and the V chord. These are often SECONDARY DOMINANT (V/V) or SECONDARY SEVEN (viiº/V)
chords.
-In the example below, we see this harmony move from a French +6 chord to a viiº/V before it lands on the V chord.
+6 MOVING TO A PASSING 6/4 CHORD
-While the +6 chord normally moves to the V, it can sometimes move to a PASSING I 6/4 chord (tonic chord with scale degree 5 in the bass voice). From there, it can move anywhere you wish.
-In the example below, we see the harmony move from a German +6 chord to a I 6/4 chord. One may expect this I 6/4 chord to move to a V. Instead, it moves to the IV.
DIFFERENT BASS POSITIONS
MUSIC STUDENT 101