Neapolitan sixth

The Neapolitan sixth is essentially a chromatic version of a iio6 chord. It functions the same and can be used in the same context, but it has a more dramatic effect because of its chromatic root, ra (↓^2) . Like iio6, it is typically used in a cadential context.

In music from Western culture, a sixth is a musical interval encompassing six note letter names or staff positions (see Interval number for more details), and the major sixth is one of two commonly occurring sixths. It is qualified as major because it is the larger of the two. The major sixth spans nine semitones.

A French sixth chord is the chord built as a stack of the major third, diminished third and major third, with the chord root on the second scale degree.

The ii6 chord looks, sounds, and acts almost exactly like the IV chord: both have 4. ^ in the bass, both contain 6. ^ in an upper voice, and both progress to V. The biggest difference is that you are much less likely write parallel fifths when using ii6 because ii shares a common tone with V (whereas IV does not).

For example, in C major, the IV (subdominant) triad in root position contains the notes F, A, and C. By lowering the A by a semitone to A♭ and raising the C to D♭, the Neapolitan sixth chord F–A♭–D♭ is formed.

The Neapolitan sixth chord in a major key is the same chord as that of the parallel minor key. Here you can see the Neapolitan Sixth chord of A minor and A major. We must lower by half step the fifth of the chord in major keys.

first inversion It simply means the IV chord in first inversion. The bass is the major 3rd of the chord. 6 is in reference to the 6th interval created between the bass and top note.

This series introduces the six key elements of music including rhythm, texture, dynamics, pitch, form, and timbre. Children will build their knowledge of basic music techniques through a set of fun activities based on each element, and they'll grow their confidence and collaborative skills along the way.

The chord is called "Neapolitan" because it is associated with the Neapolitan School, which included Alessandro Scarlatti, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Giovanni Paisiello, Domenico Cimarosa, and other important 18th-century composers of Italian opera.

noun. : an augmented sixth chord including a major third and an augmented fourth above the lowest note (such as A-flat–C–D–F-sharp) compare german sixth , italian sixth see sixth chord.

A Neapolitan sixth chord is a "chromatic" triad in first inversion that is built a half step above the tonic. In C-major, the Neapolitan sixth chord is a D♭/F chord. In a-minor, it is a B♭/D chord. The chord is indicated as N6.

Sixth chords are created by adding a major 6th interval above the root of either a major or minor triad. For example, the chord symbol C6 (pronounced “C six” or “C major six”) contains the notes C–E–G–A. Similarly, the chord symbol Cm6 (pronounced “C minor six”) contains the notes C–E♭–G–A.