Augmented 6th Chords – French

In general, Augmented sixth chords are altered chords that contain the interval of an augmented sixth.

The most common augmented sixth chords contain the note a half-step above the dominant and the note a half-step below the dominant – creating the interval of the augmented 6th, as well as other notes.

The Italian 6th chord contains the intervals of a Major 3 and augmented 6.

The German 6th contains the intervals of a Major 3, Perfect 5, and augmented 6

Let’s now look at the last type of Augmented 6th chord – the French 6th.

When I Fall In Love

A jazz standard that includes a French 6th chord is “When I Fall in Love” written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman in 1952. A early rendition of the song, sung by Jeri Southern, is linked below.

For our analysis, we will concentrate on the first 9 measures of the tune. We can already analyze most of the chords in these measures with our knowledge of chords so far (see below).

One chord – the B7b5 – in measure 7 (the chord in the purple box below) is a chord that we do not know.

A dominant 7th chord with a b5 is a chord that appears often in jazz. This chord is written as an altered dominant seventh chord. However, this particular chord here does not function as a dominant 7th chord. If it were acting as a V7 (B7) chord it would resolve to an E chord. However, this B7 chord resolves/moves to a Bb7 chord. Therefore, it is not functioning as a V7.

This B7b5 chord is written out below, along with another version of the chord using enharmonic notes. This new version might give us a hint as to how this chord functions.

This second chord above is built on Cb – the note a half step above the dominant in Eb major (the key of the piece). Since it contains the Augmented 6 interval, we can call it an augmented 6th chord.

This particular augmented 6th – containing a major 3 and an augmented 4 as well as the augmented 6th – is call a French 6th chord and is analyzed as below.

The French 6 chord built on the note a half-step above dominant in the key resolves normally to a V chord; the interval of the augmented 6th resolves out to octave scale degree 5.

Knowing how to analyze this chord, we can complete our analysis of the first 9 measures of “When I Fall in Love” as shown below.

Jazz Notation for French 6 chord

Note that in jazz notation, this chord is call a B7b5 chord. This is the easiest way for musicians to think of the chord. Using a Cb in the bass would mean the chord is spelled Cb-Eb-Gbb-Bbb which is not an easy chord to think about! B7b5 is much easier!

Therefore, in jazz notation French 6 chords are marked as a dominant 7 with a b5 (an altered dominant).

Summary – French 6

A French Augmented sixth chord is an altered chord that contains the intervals of an augmented 6, major 3 and augmented 4 above the bass.

The bass note of the chord is most often the note a half step above the dominant in the key and thus resolves normally to a V chord; the interval of the augmented 6th resolves out to octave scale degree 5.