What is a Neapolitan 6th?

1. What is a Neapolitan 6th in music?
2. How do you identify a Neapolitan chord?
3. What is the function of a Neapolitan chord?

What is a Neapolitan 6th in music?

In Classical music theory, a Neapolitan chord (or simply a "Neapolitan") is a major chord built on the lowered (flatted) second (supertonic) scale degree. ... In C major or C minor, for example, a Neapolitan sixth chord in first inversion contains an interval of a minor sixth between F and D♭.

How do you identify a Neapolitan chord?

How it is indicated in musical analysis: This chord is usually indicated by the letter N, and if in first inversion as N6, which is the most common usage. Some theory texts indicate this chord as bII (“flat II”). When you see the lowered 2nd scale degree in a pre-dominant chord at a cadence, it may be a Neapolitan.

What is the function of a Neapolitan chord?

Function: The Neapolitan chord is a pre-dominant chord (i.e., it leads to a dominant function chord). It may also serve as a pivot chord in modulations where it is the N in one key and a major triad in the other key. often the I 6 4 or the V(7). Less often, it resolves to other chords as part of a chromatic line.