29.4: Voice Leading Augmented Sixth Chords

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29.4 Voice Leading Augmented Sixth Chords

It may be helpful to review the three types of augmented sixth chords before discussing how one voice leads them.

The salient accidental in all three augmented sixth chords is ♯4^ , which almost always resolves upward to 5^ .

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): ♯4^ to 5^ in resolution to V

The ♯4^ scale degree also resolves to 5^ when an augmented sixth chord resolves to the Cadential 46 chord.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): ♯4^ to 5^ in resolution to Cadential 46

With the enharmonic German augmented sixth chord (abbreviated EnGerEnGer+6, containing ♭6^ , 1^ , ♯2^ , and ♯4^ ), ♯2^ and ♯4^ resolve upward to members of a major II46 chord.

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): ♯2^ to ♯2^ resolving upward when in an EnGerEnGer+6

The exception to ♯4^ to 5^ occurs when an augmented sixth chord resolves to VV7, in which case ♯4^ resolves to ♮4^ , which is the 7th of the VV7 chord.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): ♯4^ to ♮4^ in resolution to VV7

If you voice lead an augmented sixth chord to something other than VV, VV7, or ii46, move all of the voices smoothly while avoiding objectionable parallels and employing proper doublings.