German sixth chord: Difference between revisions

Rework part of the meantone section as quarter-comma meantone is a specific instance of septimal meantone. The harmonic seventh chord should remain highlighted as it's the focus nowadays.
Restore the comment on its dissonance. This is dissonant becuz of its position and voice-leading properties, and possibly lack of awareness of septimal intervals
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== In meantone ==
== In meantone ==
In [[meantone]], the augmented sixth represents both [[125/72]] and [[225/128]]. Most meantone tunings has this interval placed near [[7/4]]. In the historically-prevalent [[quarter-comma meantone]], for example, it is tuned only a few cents shy of a just 7/4, so the meantone German sixth chord can be considered to approximate the [[harmonic seventh chord]]:  
If we stick to the [[5-limit]], which traditional tonal harmony mainly concerns, the augmented sixth represents both [[125/72]] and [[225/128]]. It is treated as a rare and special dissonance, especially when used on the sixth degree. However, most [[meantone]] tunings has the augmented sixth placed near [[7/4]]. In the historically-prevalent [[quarter-comma meantone]], for example, it is tuned only a few cents shy of a just 7/4, so the meantone German sixth chord can be considered to approximate the [[harmonic seventh chord]]:  


* 1 – 5/4 – 3/2 – 7/4 with steps 5/4, 6/5, 7/6.
* 1 – 5/4 – 3/2 – 7/4 with steps 5/4, 6/5, 7/6.


== In just intonation ==
== In just intonation ==
Because the German sixth chord is often built on the sixth degree of a minor scale, the [[128:160:192:225]] found on the ♭VI of the [[duodene]] is a good candidate for its interpretation in the [[5-limit]].
Because the German sixth chord is often built on the sixth degree of a minor scale, the [[128:160:192:225]] found on the ♭VI of the [[duodene]] is a good candidate for its interpretation in the 5-limit.