Throughout the history of music, the augmented sixth chord has played a significant role in composition. From the Baroque period to the late Romantic period, this chord has been used to add tension, create harmonic color, and provide a sense of resolution.
The augmented sixth primarily functions as pre-dominant harmony, creating extra tension when moving to the dominant V of the key. There are three main types: the French, Italian, and German. There is no known reason for these geographical associations.
In the Baroque era, the augmented sixth chord was often used as a chromatic alteration of the dominant chord. It was typically used in cadences to create a strong resolution to the tonic. Composers such as J.S. Bach and Handel employed this chord to add drama and intensity to their compositions.
In the Classical period, the augmented sixth chord took on a different function. It was often used as a pivot chord, allowing composers to modulate to different keys smoothly. This chord provided a sense of surprise and unpredictability, keeping the listener engaged and interested.
During the Romantic period, composers such as Wagner and Liszt pushed the boundaries of harmony, and the augmented sixth chord became even more prominent. It was used to create rich and colorful harmonies, adding depth and emotion to their compositions. This chord was often used in chromatic passages and enharmonic modulations, showcasing the composers’ innovative and adventurous spirit.
Throughout the history of music, the augmented sixth chord has played a significant role in composition. From the Baroque period to the late Romantic period, this chord has been used to add tension, create harmonic color, and provide a sense of resolution.
The augmented sixth primarily functions as pre-dominant harmony, creating extra tension when moving to the dominant V of the key. There are three main types: the French, Italian, and German. There is no known reason for these geographical associations.
The augmented sixth chord is often used in jazz and popular music to create a ‘bluesy’ sound.
In the Baroque era, the augmented sixth chord was often used as a chromatic alteration of the dominant chord. It was typically used in cadences to create a strong resolution to the tonic. Composers such as J.S. Bach and Handel employed this chord to add drama and intensity to their compositions.
In the Classical period, the augmented sixth chord took on a different function. It was often used as a pivot chord, allowing composers to modulate to different keys smoothly. This chord provided a sense of surprise and unpredictability, keeping the listener engaged and interested.
During the Romantic period, composers such as Wagner and Liszt pushed the boundaries of harmony, and the augmented sixth chord became even more prominent. It was used to create rich and colorful harmonies, adding depth and emotion to their compositions. This chord was often used in chromatic passages and enharmonic modulations, showcasing the composers’ innovative and adventurous spirit.
Understanding the Augmented Sixth Chord: A Basic Overview
The augmented sixth chord is a type of chord used in music theory that, despite its name, functions more like a dominant or a leading-tone chord. It’s built on the flattened sub-mediant, the sixth degree of the major scale and contains a raised fourth above creating an interval of the augmented sixth. It comes in three main flavors, each with their own unique sound and function: the Italian, German, and French augmented sixth chords.
The Italian style of this chord, for instance, contains three distinct notes: the root, the augmented sixth, and the octave. A little detail here: it’s often doubled in orchestration to achieve a fuller sound. The French variation, on the other hand, adds an additional note – a perfect fourth above the root. This fills out the chord and gives it an exotic, slightly dissonant flavor. The German type also includes an additional note, but instead of the perfect fourth, it’s a perfect fifth. As a result, it creates a robust, strong sound that typically resolves to the tonic, or home, chord.
An important note, and a handy trick, is to remember that the augmented sixth chord often precedes the dominant chord in a piece. This makes it fundamental in serving as a pivot or bridge to move the harmony towards the dominant and start wrapping up the musical narrative, adding suspense or surprise along the way.
Practical Usage: How to Utilize Augmented Sixth Chords
You’ve understood the basic concept of augmented sixth chords. Now, let’s delve into more practical usage. Applying these intriguing chords in your musical pieces can create a unique, engaging sound. The trick is knowing where and when to insert them effectively.
Often, augmented sixth chords are used to add tension and resolve pointing towards the dominant in the key. One common place you’ll see an augmented sixth chord is as a pre-dominant — the chord leading up to the dominant, which traditionally is the V (5th) chord in a diatonic sequence.
Remember that augmented sixth chords, due to their dissonant nature, beg resolution. They’re like the suspenseful chapter in a thrilling novel – readers need resolution, analogous to listeners needing harmonic resolution in music. Therefore, use them sparingly and thoughtfully, as too much dissonance could lead to a confused or unresolved feeling in your music.
Apart from pre-dominant usage, they can also be used to modulate – or change – keys. This is an advanced technique and requires a strong understanding of both the origin and destination keys, but when done effectively, it can add a levels of sophistication and unexpectedness to your compositions.
A simple example of modulation is moving from C major to B minor. For example, the dominant seventh in C major can be spelled as a German sixth, leading to a cadential six-four chord in B minor. This is called enharmonic modulation which simply means the chord is misspelled in one key but sounds the same.
Exploring Examples of Augmented Sixth Chord in Music Genres
| Music Genre | Composer/Artist | Song/Composition | Usage of Augmented Sixth Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 | Used in the development section to create a surprise shifting alongside dominant chords. |
| Jazz | Duke Ellington | In a Sentimental Mood | Used to create tension and resolution in chord progressions throughout the piece. |
| Rhythm and Blues | Ray Charles | Georgia On My Mind | Utilized to produce colored tones, bringing richness and depth to the melody line. |
| Pop | The Beatles | Michelle | Applied to give the song a particular feeling of melancholy and yearning. |
Composing tips: Using the Augmented Sixth
- Experiment with the chord in your compositions to add tension and create unique harmonic progressions.
- Use the chord as a pivot chord to modulate to different keys and add variety to your compositions.
- Explore different inversions and voice leading techniques to make the chord sound smooth and natural.
- Combine the chord with other chromatic harmonies to create complex and interesting textures.
- Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of harmony and experiment with the augmented sixth chord to add depth and emotion to your compositions.
By understanding the function of the augmented sixth chord and incorporating it into your compositions, you can create music that is both captivating and expressive.
