Second inversion

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{\override Score.TimeSignature#'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \time 4/4 \key c \major <d g b>1 } }
A G-major triad in second inversion
F major chord
Root position F major chord: F,A,C.
Root position (F) Playⓘ
First inversion F major chord: A,C,F.
First inversion (A6) Playⓘ
Second inversion F major chord: C,F,A.
Second inversion (C6
4) Playⓘ
Third inversion F major chord: E-flat,F,A,C.
Third inversion of F7 chord (E♭4
2) Playⓘ
edit

The second

dissonance. There is therefore a tendency for movement and resolution. In notation form, it is referred to with a c following the chord position (For e.g., Ic. Vc or IVc).[citation needed] In figured bass
, a second-inversion triad is a 6
4 chord (as in I6
4), while a second-inversion seventh chord is a 4
3 chord.

Inversions are not restricted to the same number of tones as the original chord, nor to any fixed order of tones except with regard to the interval between the root, or its octave, and the bass note, hence, great variety results.[1]

Note that any voicing above the bass is allowed. A second inversion chord must have the fifth

chord factor
in the bass, but it may have any arrangement of the root and third above that, including doubled notes, compound intervals, and omission (G-C-E, G-C-E-G', G-E-G-C'-E', etc.)

Examples

In the second inversion of a C-

major triad
, the bass is G — the fifth of the triad — with the root and third stacked above it, forming the intervals of a fourth and a sixth above the inverted bass of G, respectively.

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \override Score.SpacingSpanner.strict-note-spacing = ##t \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1/4) \time 4/4 \relative c' { <c e g>1^\markup { \column { "Root" "position" } } <e g c>1^\markup { \column { "First" "inversion" } } \once \override NoteHead.color = #blue <g c e>1^\markup { \column { "Second" "inversion" } } } }

In the second inversion of a G dominant seventh chord, the bass note is D, the fifth of the seventh chord.

{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \override Score.SpacingSpanner.strict-note-spacing = ##t \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1/4) \time 4/4 \relative c' { <g b d f>1^\markup { \column { "Root" "position" } } <b d f g>1^\markup { \column { "First" "inversion" } } \once \override NoteHead.color = #blue <d f g b>1^\markup { \column { "Second" "inversion" } } <f g b d>1^\markup { \column { "Third" "inversion" } } } }

Types

There are four types of second-inversion chords:

arpeggiation
.

Cadential

"Six-four" redirects here. For the time signature, see Sextuple metre.

Cadential second-inversion chords are typically used in the authentic cadence
I6
4-V-I, or one of its variation, like I6
4-V 7-I. In this form, the chord is sometimes referred to as a cadential 6
4 chord. The chord preceding I6
4 is most often a chord that would introduce V as a weak to strong progression, for example, making -II-V into II-I6
4-V or making IV-V into IV-I6
4-V.

{ \new PianoStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemUp \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 c1 b c } \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemDown g1 g g } >> \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' { \stemUp \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 e1 d e } \new Voice \relative c' { \stemDown g1 g c, \bar "||" } >> >> }

The cadential 6
4 can be analyzed in two ways: the first labels it as a second-inversion chord, while the second treats it instead as part of a horizontal progression involving voice leading above a stationary bass.

  1. In the first designation, the cadential 6
    4     chord features the progression: I6
    4    -V-I. Most older harmony textbooks use this label, and it can be traced back to the early 19th century.[2]
  2. In the second designation, this chord is not considered an inversion of a tonic triad
    suspension. Several modern textbooks prefer this conception of the cadential 6
    4    , which can also be traced back to the early 19th century.[5]

Passing

In a progression with a passing second-inversion chord, the bass passes between two tones a third apart (usually of the same

voices
usually move in step (or remain stationary) in this progression.

{ \new PianoStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemUp \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 g1 g g } \new Voice \relative c' { \stemDown e1 d c } >> \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' { \stemUp \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 c1 b c } \new Voice \relative c { \stemDown c1 d e \bar "||" } >> >> }

Auxiliary (or pedal)

In a progression with an auxiliary (or pedal) second-inversion chord, the IV6
4 chord functions as the harmonization of a

neighbor note in the progression, I-IV6
4-I. In this progression, the third and fifth rise a step each and then fall back, creating a harmonization for the scale degrees scale degree 5 – scale degree 6 – scale degree 5
in the top voice.

{ \new PianoStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemUp \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 g1 a g } \new Voice \relative c' { \stemDown e1 f e } >> \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' { \stemUp \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 c1 c c } \new Voice \relative c { \stemDown c1 c c \bar "||" } >> >> }

Bass arpeggiation

In this progression, the bass arpeggiates the root, third, and fifth of the chord. This is just a florid movement but since the fifth is present in the bass, it is referred to as a bass arpeggiation flavour of the second inversion.[citation needed]

{ \new PianoStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c'' { \stemUp \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 g1 g g } \new Voice \relative c' { \stemDown e1 e e } >> \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' { \stemUp \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 c1 c c } \new Voice \relative c { \stemDown c1 e g \bar "||" } >> >> }

See also

References

  1. ^ Hubbard, William Lines (1908). The American History and Encyclopedia of Music, Vol. 10: Musical Dictionary, p.103. Irving Squire: London. [ISBN unspecified]. Also at the HathiTrust Digital Library
  2. ^ Weber, Theory of musical composition, p. 350, quoted in Beach, D (1967) "The functions of the six-four chord in tonal music", Journal of Music Theory, 11(1), p. 8
  3. LCC MT50 A444 1989
    .
  4. ISBN 0-03-077495-0
    .
  5. ISBN 0-486-43188-6
    . quoted in Beach, David (1967). "The functions of the six-four chord in tonal music", p.7, Journal of Music Theory, 11(1).
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-393-97666-1

Further reading
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