Augmented Sixths

Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the understanding of the Augmented Sixth Chords. For the sake of easy modulations and transpositions, the three types of Augmented Sixth Chords could be very helpful. They are called: French, German, and Italian. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net

Italian Augmented Sixth | French Augmented Sixth | German Augmented Sixth

The Augmented Sixth Chords are a special group of secondary Dominant Chords with notes that approach the dominant from a half-step below (b6) and from a half-step above (#4) at the same time. The Augmented Sixth Chords can be found in music as early as the Renaissance and were used widely in the Romantic period. Without a real Root of the chord, the main function of these Augmented Sixth Chords is to lead into the Dominant Chord in a chord progression. Using C Major as an example, the Augmented Sixth Chords would all placed in front of a G Dominant (Seventh) chord.

To create the Italian Augmented Sixth Chord, a third pitch is added between the two outside pitches that form the interval of an Augmented Sixth. In this case, a "C" between Ab and F# was added.

Interval of an Augmented Sixth	The Italian Augmented Sixth Chord

Music Example from Beethoven's Sonata, Op.78, Second Movement

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To compare the French Augmented Sixth Chord to an Italian Augmented Sixth Chord, first, there are four pitches. Second, the fourth pitch is a Major Second above the Middle pitch of an Italian Augmented Sixth Chord. In this case, a "D" above the "C" is added.

The Italian Augmented Sixth Chord	The French Augmented Sixth Chord

Music Example from JS Bach's Chorale "Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgesstellt"

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To compare the German Augmented Sixth Chord to an Italian Augmented Sixth Chor , first, like the French Augmented Sixth Chord, there are four pitches. Second, the fourth pitch is a Minor Third above the Middle pitch of an Italian Augmented Sixth Chord. In this case, an "E flat" above the "C" is added. However, by using the chromaticism, an Enharmonic can be used instead of the "E flat." So, a "D sharp" can be added as a part of a German Augmented Sixth Chord as well.

The Italian Augmented Sixth Chord	The German Augmented Sixth Chord	The German Enharmonic Augmented Sixth Chord

Music Example from Mozart's Sonata, K.332, First Movement

Music Example from Beethoven's Sonata, Op.109, Third Movement

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The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Musical Signs." Thank you for reading!

Music Theory that every musician could use and should know

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Math in Music

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Time Signatures Intervals Modulations Homophonic Style

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Diatonic & Chromatic Steps Transposition Contrapuntal Techniques

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Primary Triads Augmented Sixth Chords Ternary Form

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For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net