Suggested Learning Resources
- Root position and first inversion chords are thought of as relatively
stable, and often exhibit the harmonic function that their Roman numeral indicates. However,
second inversion (6/4) chords are relatively unstable in terms of function, and usually
function as embellishing other chords around them. There are several categories
of 6/4 chord embellishments.
- The passing 6/4 usually takes place as a chord in-between a root position
chord moving to its first inversion (example I – V6/4 – I6 )
- The Passing 6/4 chord can also appear in the above progression in reverse
(example I6 – V6/4 – I)
- In terms of harmonic function, this type of 6/4 chord prolongs, or expands,
the functional area of the chord that precedes it.
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- Identify a chord in second inversion
- Look at the chords that precede and follow the chord
- If the chords that precede and follows the 6/4 are the same Roman Numeral
quality, and one is in root position while the other is in first inversion, you may
have a passing 6/4 chord in-between them.
- The 6/4 will be a different Roman Numeral label than the preceding and
following chords
- There is likely a voice exchange between two voices over the duration
of the three chords
- (Example IV – I6/4 – IV6)
- Note: a passing 6/4 can also connect two different chords as long as those
two chords serve the same function (Example IV6 – I6/4 – ii6)
https://youtu.be/U_47ly6iTYw?t=10m19s
Objective 19.4: Define and label the Passing 6/4 in music exercises, and identify
in real music examples