Chromatic Chords

What is a chromatic note?

A note that does not belong to the diatonic scale, such as a sharp or flat in C major.

What is a chromatic chord?

A chord that contains one or more chromatic notes.

How is chromaticism viewed in tonal music?

As an alteration or inflection of the diatonic scale, often used for coloristic features.

What are chromatic passing or auxiliary notes?

Notes that appear in chords as secondary dominants/sevenths without obvious modulation.

How can chromatic chords be useful in music?

They can facilitate modulations to distant keys and serve as pivot chords.

What is the Neapolitan Sixth chord?

The first inversion of the flattened supertonic major (♭IIb or ♭II6), often resolving to the tonic.

What are the three types of Augmented Sixth chords?

German, French, and Italian Augmented Sixth chords, each with different note arrangements.

What is the structure of a German Augmented Sixth chord?

It contains a major 3rd and perfect 5th above the root note (Ab in C major).

What is the structure of a French Augmented Sixth chord?

It contains a major 3rd and augmented 4th above the root note (Ab in C major).

What is the structure of an Italian Augmented Sixth chord?

It contains only a major 3rd above the root note (Ab in C major).

What is a Diminished 7th chord?

A chord made of stacked minor 3rds (four times) that can be built on any scale degree or chromatic note.

What is the significance of note spelling in Diminished 7th chords?

In tonal contexts, note spelling is important; in atonal contexts, it may depend on the composer's intent.

What is an Augmented triad?

A chord made of stacked major 3rds (three times), consisting of a major 3rd and an augmented 5th above the root.

How do Diminished 7th and Augmented triad chords resolve?

Both can resolve in various ways, often to either major or minor keys.

What is the role of chromatic chords in late 19th-century music?

They were used extensively to undermine tonality as it was on the verge of breaking down.

What is the function of chromatic chords as pivot chords?

They allow for modulation to different keys by changing note spellings enharmonically.

What is the relationship between chromatic chords and tonality?

Chromatic chords can challenge or undermine traditional tonal structures.