C2B | Chords of the augmented 6th
What is an augmented 6th chord?
- It’s a chord created around the interval of an augmented 6th. It’s often based too on the flattened 6th degree of the scale – major or minor (a flattened submediant).
- There are three different types – the Italian 6th, the French 6th and the German 6th – the German version sounding like a ‘dominant 7th’ chord.
- To understand their formation, work out first and foremost what the interval of an augmented 6th actually is.
- Then, look at the three different types of augmented 6th chords.
- Lastly, it’s easier to understand them and their context if the musical ear can detect the resolution each time. The uppermost note moves upwards one semitone, whilst the lowest note moves down a semitone, like this:
augmented 6th interval
the ITALIAN 6th chord resolving onto chord V in C major
the FRENCH 6th chord resolving onto I64 in C minor
the GERMAN 6th chord resolving onto I64 in C major
Further listening:
This is a very useful video to see how classical and contemporary composers have used this aug. 6th chord:
Chords of the augmented 6th
A chord deriving from the interval of an augmented 6th. There are THREE types of augmented 6th chords – the Italian 6th, the French 6th and the German 6th.