Show off your music theory chops with my weekly challenge! You’ll find a new question here every Monday. Please comment to post your reply.
This week’s challenge:
Here is the end of Chopin’s Prelude in G minor, Opus 28 No. 22:
What is the name of the chord circled in red? Hint: look at how the chord is spelled!
Check back on Friday, May 21st for the answer!
ANSWER for 5/17/21
German Augmented 6th Chord (also, German 6th, Ger+6)
The German sixth is a type of augmented sixth chord, most often used as a chromatic approach to the dominant (V). In the Chopin prelude, it’s followed by the cadential 6/4 chord (I 6/4), then V, and finally i.
I have an entire series of video lessons on chords in the Chord Module! Sign up for a monthly subscription for full access to all video lessons, worksheets, and answer keys. Also, this year I’ll be adding new lessons in the Chromatic Harmony Module. I created Breaking Barlines with one thing in mind: making music theory effective and FUN!
Eb/C#
Hey Al, good answer. In jazz and pop music, you might very well call this Eb major over C#. But in classical music, this chord has a very specific name and harmonic context. One hint: it’s named after a country!
Dominant 7th
Hi Robert, you’re on the right track! In fact, if you only heard this chord without seeing how it’s spelled (or hearing how it resolves), it would be indistinguishable from a dominant 7th chord. But the spelling of that low bass note is what gives it away. One more hint: this chord is named after a country!
Ger6 of G minor
WE HAVE A WINNER! Super Job!
B minor 7
B minor augmented
German 6
AWESOME! 10,000 Theory Points To You!
French sixth
Hi Eileen,
Ooo, you’re so close! Right type of chord, just a different country!