Back to worksheetsChords & Harmony · Music Theory
Augmented sixth chords
Some chords lean on V from both sides at once. In A minor, F sits a half step above E and D♯ a half step below it. Together they make an augmented 6th, and the chords built on it come in three flavors: Italian, French and German.
Plain prints every note in black, without the color coding.
Listen
Play each example here, or download it as an MP3 (audio) or a MIDI file.
Two notes that spread apart
- iv6 – It+6 – V: the D rises to D♯, then F and D♯ spread to the octave E0:09
Three flavors
- Italian sixth to V0:08
- French sixth to V0:08
- German sixth – i6/4 – V0:09
Into V
- German sixth straight to V (parallel 5ths), then through i6/40:14
- Chopin, Prelude in E minor, bars 21–250:31
Download all
Free to use in your own lessons and practice. Made by the teachers at Tissimo.