10.3 Chromatic Mediants and Altered Chords

Chromatic mediants and altered chords spice up your music by adding unexpected twists to harmonic progressions. These chords use notes outside the key, creating tension and color that can evoke strong emotions in listeners.

Understanding these chords opens up a world of expressive possibilities in your compositions. By strategically using chromatic mediants and altered chords, you can create drama, surprise, and emotional depth in your music, taking it beyond basic diatonic harmony.

Chromatic mediants and altered chords

Defining chromatic mediants and altered chords

Top images from around the web for Defining chromatic mediants and altered chords

• 

  Chromatic scale - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Tonicization – Open Music Theory View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  How to play the full chromatic scale on a diatonic harmonica | Custom Harmonicas by Andrew Zajac View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Chromatic scale - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Tonicization – Open Music Theory View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Defining chromatic mediants and altered chords

• 

  Chromatic scale - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Tonicization – Open Music Theory View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  How to play the full chromatic scale on a diatonic harmonica | Custom Harmonicas by Andrew Zajac View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Chromatic scale - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Tonicization – Open Music Theory View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Chromatic mediants are chords whose roots are a third away from the tonic, but one of the notes is chromatically altered, creating a striking effect that departs from the diatonic scale
• Altered chords include one or more notes that are not found in the key signature, often through the use of accidentals
• Chromatic mediants and altered chords expand the harmonic vocabulary beyond the diatonic chords, allowing for more expressive and emotionally charged progressions
• Common chromatic mediants include the bVI (Ab major in C major), bIII (Eb major in C major), and #iv° chords
• Frequently used altered chords include the Neapolitan sixth (bII6), augmented sixth chords (It6, Fr6, Ger6), and secondary dominants

The role of chromatic mediants and altered chords in chromatic harmony

• Chromatic mediants and altered chords are used to add color, variety, and drama to harmonic progressions
• These chords create tension, instability, and a sense of movement away from the tonic
• They are essential elements of chromatic harmony, which is characterized by the use of non-diatonic tones and chords
• Chromatic mediants and altered chords can evoke various emotions, such as longing, nostalgia, yearning, or despair
• The strategic use of these chords supports the desired mood or narrative of a musical piece

Identifying chromatic harmony

Recognizing chromatic mediants

• Chromatic mediants can be identified by their root being a third away from the tonic and the presence of a chromatically altered note
• Examples of chromatic mediants include the bVI (Ab major in C major) or the bIII (Eb major in C major)
• Pay attention to the chord qualities and scale degrees to accurately identify chromatic mediants

Spotting altered chords

• Altered chords can be spotted by the presence of accidentals that are not found in the key signature
• Examples include the raised 4th scale degree in a secondary dominant (D7 in C major) or the lowered 2nd scale degree in a Neapolitan sixth chord (Db major in C minor)
• Augmented sixth chords (It6, Fr6, Ger6) feature a raised 4th scale degree and a lowered 6th scale degree, creating an augmented sixth interval
• When analyzing musical examples, look for unusual chord qualities and accidentals to identify altered chords

Composing with chromatic harmony

Using chromatic mediants for expressive purposes

• Chromatic mediants can create moments of surprise, drama, or emotional intensity in a progression
• Moving from I to bVI can evoke a sense of longing or nostalgia
• Consider the emotional and expressive goals of the piece when incorporating chromatic mediants

Incorporating altered chords for tension and resolution

• Altered chords add tension and resolution to a progression
• A Neapolitan sixth chord (bII6) can create a sense of yearning or despair before resolving to the dominant chord
• Secondary dominants can tonicize a chord momentarily, creating a brief departure from the main key and adding interest
• Augmented sixth chords create a strong pull towards the dominant, heightening tension and anticipation before the resolution
• Use altered chords strategically to support the desired mood or narrative of the composition

Analyzing chromatic harmony

Examining chromatic voice leading

• Chromatic mediants often involve chromatic voice leading, with one or more voices moving by semitone to create a smooth connection between chords
• Analyze how the individual voices move to understand the chromatic relationships between the chords
• Pay attention to the voice leading when examining the use of chromatic mediants in musical contexts

Understanding the resolution of altered chords

• Altered chords typically resolve to a more stable chord, often the dominant or the tonic
• Examine how the altered notes are resolved in the subsequent chord, focusing on the voice leading
• Neapolitan sixth chords (bII6) usually resolve to the dominant chord, with the lowered 2nd scale degree moving down by semitone to the leading tone
• Augmented sixth chords (It6, Fr6, Ger6) resolve to the dominant chord, with the raised 4th scale degree moving up to the 5th and the lowered 6th scale degree moving down to the 5th
• Secondary dominants resolve to the chord a fifth below, temporarily tonicizing that chord
• Consider the harmonic context, key relationships, and emotional impact when analyzing the resolution of altered chords