Examples of neapolitan chords.

[faa2010]

Greetings,

Could you give me some examples of pieces where there are the next chords?

-Neapolitan 6th
-French, german and italian 6th chords.

I understand that all are part of the subdominant family, have an augmented 6th, and after them, either a K6/4 or a dominant chord can appear.

[brogers70]

Neapolitan sixth chord is a major triad formed on the flatted second degree of the scale, so it would be, in the key of c minor, a Db major chord. It is called a Neapolitan sixth because it is usually used in first inversion (ie with the third of the chord in the bass), which would have been indicated in figured bass as a 6 under the bass line. You can find an example in measure 3 of Beethoven's Bagatelle opus 119, no. 9, where you'll find a first inversion Bb major chord in a piece opening in a minor.

The Italian augmented sixth consists of the tonic, the augmented fourth and the flatted sixth. There's an example in measure 12 of the Overture to the Magic Flute.

The French augmented sixth chord is the Italian augmented sixth plus the second degree of the scale. You can find an example in measure 38 of the minuet from Beethoven's Piano Sonata Opus 10, no. 3.

The German augmented sixth chord is the Italian augmented sixth plus a minor mode third degree of the scale. You can find an example in measure 33 of the second movement of Beethovens first String Quarter, Op.18, no. 1.

All this I found in Kostka and Payne, Tonal Harmony.

[faa2010]

Thanks for the examples, because I wanted to find them in other pieces, but it seems difficult and tricky.

Eg, I wanted to find in the Chopin Nocturne op 55 no 1, maybe there is a Neapolitan 6th in bar 6, maybe not. And I though there was an italian 6th in bar 19, but it was just a V7/V.

[cfluke]

Chopin Nocturne Op 27 No 1 has Neapolitan chords (in first inversion and arpeggiated). Look for the D naturals in the first page or so. You'll generally find a D Major chord.

Many classical pieces, especially sonatas, use the augmented 6th chords. You'll find them very often before a half cadence

[brogers70]

Thanks for the examples, because I wanted to find them in other pieces, but it seems difficult and tricky.

Eg, I wanted to find in the Chopin Nocturne op 55 no 1, maybe there is a Neapolitan 6th in bar 6, maybe not. And I though there was an italian 6th in bar 19, but it was just a V7/V.

Sure, in Op 55 no 1 measure 6, there's a Gb major chord in first inversion, that's a Neapolitan sixth. And you're right about bar 19; it's a V7/V. The middle c in the left hand on the second beat, which might have caused confusion, is a suspension, carried over (in the mind's ear) from the previous measure.

[samwitdangol]

Chopin's first ballade starts with a Neapolitan chord.