Piano Lessons- Music Theory Lessons

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. Today I’m going to show you a piano exercise that can truly transform your playing. And the best part? You don’t need to learn anything new because this technique takes the music you’re already playing and turns it into an exercise for improvement.

Playing the Hands Together

One of the biggest challenges pianists face is playing the hands together, especially as the music gets more complex. When you’re working with advanced pieces, you’re not just dealing with two voices—there are often multiple lines happening at once, and you need to find a way to make them all distinct.

Think of it like listening to an orchestra: you might want to hear the oboe melody while the strings play a soft accompaniment, or perhaps you want the reverse. On the piano, how do you control the various parts to achieve that kind of control over balance?

A Simple, Effective Technique

The answer lies in a technique that you can apply to any piece of music to bring out the different parts in the score. It’s all about varying your articulation between the hands. This allows you to give more emphasis to some voices and let others recede into the background, much like managing multiple instruments in an orchestra.

How to Turn this into an Exercise

You may have difficulty achieving the desired balance of melody being above the accompaniment. The secret is to play with different articulations. Play the melody legato and strongly while playing accompaniment with a gentle finger staccato. This clearly delineates melody and accompaniment from one another and trains your hand to be able to control the individual parts.

Adjust Articulations for Balance

This technique also works well in pieces where you have more complex textures, such as chordal or contrapuntal passages. By breaking out the different lines within a chord or passage, you can practice emphasizing certain notes (playing legato) while letting others fade into the background (with a gentle finger staccato). This works even when you’re not dealing with traditional melody and accompaniment.

In chord playing, you can isolate individual voices. For example, in four-part chorale-type music, you can play each separate voice, one at a time, legato with all the other voices with gentle finger staccato. This gives you control over all of the voices in counterpoint!

The Key to Control: Quantifiable Articulation

The beauty of this technique is that it offers a more precise method of control than simply adjusting dynamics (loud and soft). Instead, it’s about varying the articulation of each hand and each voice by simply using a gentle, staccato touch for the parts you want to underplay and a more pronounced legato or sustaining touch for the melody or important voices.

By doing this, your hands learn to distinguish between the parts of the music, making it easy to bring out anything you like in your music.

Turning Your Music into Exercises

What makes this technique so powerful is that it’s applicable to any music you’re working on. It doesn’t matter whether you’re dealing with a simple melody and accompaniment or a more intricate texture—by adjusting articulations, you can turn any piece into an exercise that develops your control of balance and expressiveness.

In the end, this simple yet effective exercise can take your playing to the next level. You don’t need to learn new music or complicated exercises; just apply this technique to what you’re already working on, and watch your playing transform.

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. Today, I want to talk about the number one mistake that is holding you back in your piano playing. If you’ve ever felt like you’re practicing hard but not making the progress you want, this could be the reason. It’s all about clarity. The biggest mistake most pianists make is not being clear about which aspect of their playing they’re working on at any given moment. When you practice, there are many different skills and techniques to focus on. But if you aren’t clear about which one you’re addressing during your practice, you might end up not improving any of them, despite spending a lot of time at the piano. So, let’s dive into why clarity is so important and how it can make your practice sessions more productive.

Know What You’re Working On

To make the most of your practice time, you need to know exactly what you’re aiming to improve. There are several different areas of piano playing that need attention, and they each require different approaches. If you try to address them all at once or don’t have a clear focus, you might end up spreading yourself too thin.

Let’s take a closer look at the different things you need to focus on during your practice.

Learning New Music

One of the most fundamental aspects of piano playing is learning new music. But are you truly learning the music, or just playing through it? If you’re working on learning a piece, you need to be methodical about it. Break it into small sections, work hands separately, and make sure each hand is fluent before putting them together. Progressing this way is far more effective than just playing through the piece over and over and hoping it sticks. Get each section down thoroughly before moving on, and connect the sections as you go.

Developing Reading Skills

Another essential skill is reading music. Reading is a macro skill—it’s something that develops over time with consistent practice. To improve, make reading a part of your daily practice routine. Find music at your current reading level and work through it regularly. Over time, you’ll notice that your reading skills improve. If possible, find someone to play with—whether it’s a singer, another pianist, or a friend who enjoys music. This will help keep ythings moving and make reading more fluid.

Refining Your Playing

After you’ve learned a piece, the next step is refining it. It’s not enough to just play through the piece and hope it sounds good. If you’re not happy with how it sounds, go back to the score and work through it slowly. Take your foot off the pedal, use a metronome, and focus on the details. There are many ways to refine a piece, but it’s important to know whether you’re just playing through it, learning it, or actively refining it. Understanding the difference will help you stay focused and productive.

Developing Technique

Your technique is essential for all your playing. When you refine a piece, you’re already developing technique, but there are other ways to specifically work on technique. For example, knowing all your major and minor scales and arpeggios is crucial. Music is made up of scales and broken chords, so if you’ve mastered these, you won’t have to spend extra time learning them when they appear in your pieces. Spend a small amount of your practice time each day working on technique, including wrist and octave work, and you’ll see improvements across everything you play.

Understanding Music Theory and Structure

Knowing the theory behind the music you play is another critical element. It’s not enough to just learn the notes and rhythms. Understanding the structure of a piece helps you interpret it more effectively. For example, if you’re learning a sonata, it’s important to understand its form. Are you clear on the different sections of the piece? Can you identify how the harmonies shift? Knowing the theory behind the music will make learning and performing much more intuitive and will also strengthen your reading.

Practicing for Performance

Finally, there’s the aspect of performance. Many pianists just play through their pieces in practice, but that’s not the same as performing. To practice for a performance, you need to simulate the experience. Set up a recording device and pretend you’re performing for an audience. Don’t stop, even if you make a mistake—just keep playing. This will help you build confidence and get a better sense of what needs more work. The more you practice performing, the more comfortable and prepared you’ll feel when it’s time for the real thing.

The Key to Productive Practice

To get the most out of your practice sessions, the most important thing is clarity. You need to know exactly what you’re working on at any given moment. Whether you’re learning a new piece, refining your technique, developing your reading skills, or practicing your performance, each skill requires a different focus and methodology. When you approach each of these areas with clear intentions, your practice will be far more effective.

By defining your goals and using a methodical approach, you can make huge strides in your playing. So the next time you sit down at the piano, take a moment to think about what you’re focusing on, and practice accordingly. Knowing what pillar of your playing you’re working on will make all the difference in your progress.

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. If you’re looking to improve your piano playing quickly, I’ve got a tip for you that’s simple, effective, and can yield results right away. You might be skeptical, and that’s understandable, but trust me—this tip really works. It’s something that’s helped countless students I’ve worked with, and it’s something I use myself regularly. If you’ve never tried it before, it’ll give you a noticeable boost, and if you’ve done it before, it will serve as a valuable reminder of how important it is to your progress.

Slow Down and Focus on Details

The key is to take a piece you can already play, and slow it down to refine your playing and take it to the next level of performance. Play the piece slowly with the score in front of you, paying close attention to every detail.

Here’s what you need to do:

Take your foot off the pedal so you can hear everything clearly.

Go through the piece slowly, focusing on every single detail of the score.

Exaggerate everything—the dynamics, the accents, the phrasing.

At first, it may feel strange, but this is exactly what you need to do to uncover nuances in the music that you might have missed when playing up to tempo. You’ll be able to hear every note, every accent, and every subtle dynamic shift with clarity. In one sitting, you’ll be amazed at how much you can learn and how much more secure you’ll feel in the piece.

Why This Works

When you slow things down, you give your mind and fingers the time they need to really process the music. You begin to notice details that you might overlook when playing at a faster tempo. And even more importantly, this practice solidifies your understanding of the piece, reinforcing the phrasing and expression that make the music come alive.

You could go further by gradually increasing the tempo notch by notch with the metronome, but surprisingly, just this one step of slowing down and focusing on the details will give you instant results.

The Immediate Impact

If you’re doubtful, I encourage you to try this with a piece that’s not quite at the level you want. Maybe it’s something you’ve played before but feels a little lacking right now. Slowing down and focusing on the details will instantly improve your performance. Even without taking additional steps, just this one technique can give you noticeable results. It’s a simple and effective technique that can help you unlock new layers of expression in your playing. Leave a comment and let me know how it works for you! And, if you enjoy videos and tips like this, be sure to check out the description below to find more resources to help you take your playing to the next level.

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. Today, we’re diving into a concept that could truly change the way you approach your music. It’s about learning to control your thoughts, so you can better express your emotions through your playing. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, let’s explore why this matters and how it can take your musical expression to the next level.

The Freedom of Thought

One of the most powerful freedoms we have is the freedom of our own thoughts. While many people try to control their emotions, I believe it’s not about suppressing or controlling your emotions—rather, it’s about expressing them fully. Emotions should be felt and expressed freely. But when it comes to our thoughts, that’s a different matter entirely. In fact, practicing itself is a form of thought control. You might be thinking, “Isn’t practicing just about building finger strength and improving technique?” Yes, physiology plays a role, but there’s a deeper, more profound aspect of practicing—the thought process behind it.

The Power of Thought in Practice

Think about those incredible young pianists you see on YouTube. They’re barely big enough to reach the pedals, with tiny hands and fingers. And yet, they play complex pieces by composers like Chopin with ease. How is this possible? Physiologically, they don’t have the advantage of strength or hand size, yet they manage to learn and perform music at an extraordinary level.

This is because practicing is driven by thought. The process of learning music is a mental one, not just a physical one. Even when the body may not be physically capable of performing certain tasks, the mind can overcome these limitations. These children figure out ways to navigate and perform pieces, which proves that practice is, first and foremost, a thought process.

Memory and Music: A Shared Process

It’s a bit like memory techniques you might have heard about, where people can recall hundreds or even thousands of digits of Pi. How do they do it? Often, they create elaborate mental images—like envisioning a house with rooms filled with items that represent different numbers. Everything connects in a logical sequence, and by following these associations, they can recall vast amounts of information.

Learning a piece of music is no different. Each note, phrase, and motif connects to the next in a logical sequence, much like a story. You can think of a musical composition as a narrative where everything leads to something else. Just like remembering a detailed story, once you start learning a piece of music, the connections between the notes make it easier to remember the whole.

A Sequential Approach to Learning

For me, learning music has always come more naturally than other subjects. I remember struggling with non-sequential subjects in school, like social studies. Dates, battles, and names felt disconnected and hard to remember. But music? Music made perfect sense. One note leads to the next, and each section of a piece connects naturally to the next. It’s almost like a puzzle, and every part fits together in a way that makes learning it feel organic. That’s the power of thought control in practicing. It’s not just about the mechanics of playing; it’s about understanding the flow of the music and connecting the dots in your mind.

Thought Control in Performance

But the role of thought control doesn’t end with practice. It plays a crucial part in performance as well. I remember the great Olympic figure skater, Sasha Cohen, commenting after a flawless performance that everything went exactly as she had imagined it. This is a prime example of visualization, which is a form of thought control.

In performance, you need to control your thoughts to avoid distractions and anxiety. A common approach is to imagine performing in front of an audience, even while you’re still practicing at home. You don’t want to block out the idea of an audience—rather, you want to include that idea in your practice. Visualizing the nerves, the excitement, and the energy of performing will help you feel prepared when you’re actually in front of an audience.

When the time comes to perform, you won’t be caught off guard. Instead, you’ll feel comfortable because you’ve already “experienced” that situation in your mind during practice. This is another example of how controlling your thoughts can ease the stress and help you perform at your best.

Meditation and Relaxation: Another Form of Thought Control

Meditation is another great example of thought control, though in a more relaxed context. Many people practice meditation to clear their minds and enter a state of relaxation. By blocking out the constant inner dialogue, they’re able to create a sense of calm and control.

In a similar way, when we’re preparing for a performance, it’s helpful to have a relaxed, focused mind. It’s about managing your thoughts to avoid stress and anxiety so you can perform with full emotional expression. Whether it’s focusing on your breath or imagining a peaceful place, managing your thoughts can help you feel centered and at ease.

The True Freedom of Thought

Ultimately, the freedom of thought is one of the most important freedoms we have. When you learn to control your thoughts, you gain the ability to truly express your emotions in your music. You’re no longer at the mercy of distractions or anxiety; instead, you can focus entirely on the music, allowing it to speak through you.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to develop this kind of thought control and take your piano playing to new heights, check out the resources in the description below. These tools could be game changers for you as you continue to grow and express yourself through your music.

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. If you’ve ever wondered how professional pianists seem to sit down and play entire pieces from memory, the good news is: it’s not all inborn talent. Sure, it can seem like a natural ability at first, but there are practical techniques you can learn to make memorizing music a whole lot easier. In this article, I’ll walk you through the key strategies that will help you remember pieces, so you’ll always have music at the ready whenever you want to play.

1. Play Through Your Music Regularly

This might seem obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing: consistency is key. If you don’t play your pieces regularly, it’s no surprise that you might forget them. Just like any skill, memory improves the more you practice it. Set aside time to revisit your pieces, even when you’re not performing them. The more frequently you engage with your music, the more likely it will stick.

2. Understand the Structure with Music Theory

One of the most powerful tools for memorization is understanding music theory. Without this, you’re left trying to remember a series of random notes with no clear structure. But once you grasp the underlying structure of a piece—such as its key signatures, chords, progressions, and patterns—it becomes much easier to commit the music to memory. When you know the theory behind the music, you begin to see connections between the notes and understand why certain sections of the piece work together. This deepens your memory and allows you to anticipate what comes next, which makes playing from memory much more natural.

3. Learn the Music Correctly from the Start

It’s crucial to start off on the right foot. If you initially learn a piece incorrectly, you’re setting yourself up for difficulty later on. This means learning the music in manageable chunks, paying attention to dynamics, articulation, and phrasing from the start. And if you’re unsure how to go about this, I’ve shared plenty of videos on my channel about effective practice techniques for memorization.

When I was at the Manhattan School of Music, my fellow students would often ask how I managed to memorize music so easily. The answer? My father, Morton Estrin, taught me memorization techniques from my very first lesson. So yes, there is a system that works for everyone—no matter your age or experience.

4. Slow Practice: Reinforce Your Memory

Slow practice is a game-changer for reinforcing your memory. When you practice slowly, you have time to really internalize the score. Even if you think you’ve learned a piece, it’s easy to drift away from the score if you’re not referencing it. Slow practice forces you to pay attention to every note and detail, helping you avoid those little memory gaps later on. I personally use this technique with all of the music I play. When I practice slowly—often without the pedal—I can take a closer look at the score and discover new nuances that I might have missed in faster practice sessions. It’s amazing how many subtle details you can uncover, even in pieces you’ve known for years!

5. Mental Practice: Play Through the Music in Your Mind

Another highly effective method for retaining music is mental practice. This means thinking through the piece when you’re away from the piano. Picture yourself playing it in your mind: hear the notes, the phrasing, and the dynamics. This type of practice is incredibly powerful because it helps solidify your memory without actually being at the keyboard. You’ve probably experienced this yourself—sometimes you find yourself mentally “playing” a piece while you’re doing something else. That’s not just idle thinking; it’s actually a form of practice. The more you can “hear” and “see” the music in your mind, the stronger your memory will be.

6. Holistic Practices: Take Care of Your Body and Mind

Finally, don’t forget about the importance of overall well-being. Your brain is an organ, and just like the rest of your body, it requires proper care. Regular physical activity improves blood flow to the brain, which in turn helps with memory. And let’s not forget the importance of a good night’s sleep—without it, your memory won’t function at its best. A balanced diet also plays a role in maintaining optimal brain function. When you take care of your body, your brain is in a better position to retain and recall information. So, make sure to prioritize exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet if you want to improve your memorization abilities.

Master Memorization and Play Without Limits!

By incorporating these techniques into your practice routine, you’ll be able to memorize your pieces more easily and confidently. With a little time and consistency, you’ll find that you can play from memory anytime you want—without frustration. If you’re looking for more tips to take your piano playing to the next level, check out the link below!

Welcome to LivingPianos.com, I’m Robert Estrin. Today, let’s talk about one of the trickiest aspects of piano playing: the fourth finger. If you’ve ever struggled to get this finger to cooperate, you’re not alone! The fourth finger is often a challenge for many pianists, and it can make some passages more difficult than they need to be. But why is it so tricky?

Why Is the Fourth Finger So Difficult?

Try this: lift just your fourth finger while keeping the others on the keys. It’s harder than it sounds, right? The fourth finger is naturally weaker than the others, and it doesn’t move as independently as the thumb or middle fingers. This can be especially challenging when you’re trying to play with evenness and precision. In fact, even great composers like Robert Schumann were frustrated with their fourth finger. Schumann struggled with its weakness so much that he used a contraption to try to strengthen it. Although the details of the device are unclear, it was said to involve pulleys and weights—but unfortunately, it caused more harm than good. So, let’s not take extreme measures like Schumann did! There are better ways to strengthen the fourth finger without causing any damage.

Strengthening the Fourth Finger

The good news is that there are ways to work on strengthening the fourth finger that will help improve the independence of all your fingers. One of the unique challenges of piano playing is that the strongest fingers (the thumbs and middle fingers) are in the middle, while the weaker fingers (the pinky and fourth finger) are on the outside. This imbalance can create problems when you need to achieve even voicing in your playing. For example, if I let my hand fall naturally onto the keys, the sound might end up uneven. The result is an imbalanced sound, with the stronger fingers dominating. To fix this, you need to shift the weight of your hand toward the weaker fingers—especially the fourth and pinky fingers. This will help you balance out the sound and create a more even tone. By practicing this, you’ll learn how to distribute the weight properly, which is crucial for bringing out both the bass and the treble lines in a piece.

Clean Scales: Focus on the Release

Another issue pianists face is sloppy scale playing, which can often be traced back to poor finger release. If your fourth finger doesn’t lift cleanly from the key, it can leave an unwanted sound behind, making the scale sound messy. To improve this, focus on the release of each note so that the note is cleanly released from the key. You can practice this by slowing down your scales and exaggerating the release:

1.Set your metronome to a slow tempo.

2.Play one note per beat, making sure to lift each finger high enough to clear the key, especially the fourth finger.

This slow practice will give you the time to pay attention to your hand and make sure the notes are released cleanly. Over time, this will help you build strength and control in your fourth finger, and your scales will sound much cleaner.

Developing Control Over Melody and Harmony

Your thumbs are naturally stronger, so when you’re playing, the tendency is for them to dominate the sound. But to bring out the melody clearly, you need to practice controlling the strength of each finger and where the weight is placed. A good exercise is to practice bringing out each voice in a chord progression. For example, take a simple chord progression and focus on each voice: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. This can be a good way to practice controlling the strength of each finger and ensuring you can highlight the important voices in your music. By practicing this way, you’ll get better at controlling each voice in more complex pieces, too. Whether you’re playing a simple hymn or a more intricate score, you’ll be able to express each line clearly and evenly.

Embrace the Fourth Finger

The fourth finger might be a little tricky, but with patience and practice, you can gain control and strength in that finger. By focusing on clean releases, proper hand balance, and making sure you lead with the right fingers, you’ll improve your overall playing and get a more even sound. So, next time you’re practicing scales or a challenging piece, take it slow and pay attention to those little details. With time and careful practice, your fourth finger will become strong and reliable. I’m Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com, Your Online Piano Store. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you next time!

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Contact me if you are interested in private lessons. I have many resources for you! Robert@LivingPianos.com

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. When you think of power, what comes to mind? For many pianists, the instinct is to play loudly, often pushing to the limit in order to achieve a sense of strength. But what if I told you that true power comes not from playing loudly all the time but from creating contrast? Let’s take a closer look at how this works, using the third movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as an example.

The Fire Analogy: Power in Reserve

Imagine you’re watching a fire. If it’s just glowing embers and small flames, you feel the warmth, but there’s no real sense of danger. Now, picture the same fire, but this time, every so often, large flames burst out unexpectedly. That sudden flare gives you a sense of awe—and maybe even a little fear—because you can’t predict how much power is hidden beneath the surface. You have no idea how much energy lies in reserve.

The same principle applies to your piano playing. It’s not about playing loudly all the time. Instead, it’s about creating that same illusion of immense power by playing with contrasts—soft moments followed by loud bursts. When used effectively, this approach can make the loud parts of your playing feel far more impactful.

The Misconception of Playing Loud All the Time

Now, let’s take a look at Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata—specifically the third movement. Many pianists, when tackling this piece, struggle with the dynamics. They try to play everything with the same intensity, pushing themselves to play louder and louder. The result is often a sound that feels labored, and the sense of power is lost in the struggle.

If you take a closer look at the score, you’ll notice that almost everything is marked piano (soft), except for a couple of specific moments. By underplaying the majority of the piece and only letting the louder chords flare out, you can create the same effect as those sudden bursts of flames in a fire. When playing the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata, the key to creating the illusion of power is to lighten up everything except the moments where the loud chords come in. When you do this, the contrast between soft and loud creates a dramatic effect. The loud chords seem to explode—and this is exactly what I want to highlight.

The Secret to Creating the Illusion of Power

This technique isn’t just for the Moonlight Sonata. You can apply it to any piece of music you’re working on. If you’re struggling to achieve a sense of power or dramatic expression, try this:

• Play as softly as possible for the majority of the piece.
• Focus on achieving pianissimo (very soft) in the sections that don’t require volume.
• When it’s time for a louder section, let it truly stand out.

This way, you create a vast range of expression. It’s the difference between playing everything loud (which can wear you out and feel one-dimensional) and saving your energy for the moments when loudness truly counts. This gives the impression that your power is limitless. This technique is what many great pianists use to command attention. Take Horowitz, for instance. He was known for not playing everything loud, but when he did play loudly, it was startling. His playing gave the impression of an enormous power reserve, just waiting to be unleashed. You couldn’t hear it all the time, but when it came, it was breathtaking.

Experiment with Your Own Power

Next time you’re working on a piece, try to experiment with the power of contrast. See what happens when you reduce the volume and focus on playing softer than you normally would. Then, when you reach the louder sections, let them truly shine. With this approach, you’ll find that your playing feels more powerful, more controlled, and far more expressive. The illusion of power is all about reserve—and it can make all the difference in how your music feels to both you and your audience.

Give it a try, and let me know how it works for you. Leave a comment here at LivingPianos.com and YouTube!

Master the 5 Pillars of Piano to Dramatically Improve Your Playing

•Reading (sight-reading)
•Learning (memorizing)
•Improvising (playing by ear)
•Technique
•Theory

NEW PROGRAM

•Imagine having a step-by-step system of how to work effectively at the piano, guided by a concert pianist/educator along with a support group of like-minded individuals so you can supercharge your piano playing.

•Showing exactly how to take your reading and playing to new levels so you can play music that has always been out of reach.
Where everybody is aligned towards the same goal: dramatically improving your piano playing so you can feel confident at the piano.

•I will be coaching so you have professional guidance every step of the way. I have been teaching since assisting my father, Morton Estrin, while still in high school. Studied with great teachers from John Ogdon to Ruth Slenczynska, master classes with Byron Janis.

•Where the focus is on implementation and collaboration so you don’t have to endure long trainings all by yourself.

•It feels like hanging out with friends so you get real results in your piano playing!

Welcome to LivingPianos.com! I’m Robert Estrin. Today, we’re diving into the most deceptive chord in music: the augmented sixth chord. Now, if you’re like many people, you might have heard of it but don’t really know why it’s so special or, frankly, so tricky. So, let’s break it down in a way that makes it easy to understand and maybe even a bit fun!

What Exactly is an Augmented Sixth Chord?

At its core, the augmented sixth chord sounds like a dominant seventh chord. But here’s the twist—it’s not built on the fifth scale degree (like a normal dominant seventh). Instead, it’s built on the flatted sixth scale degree. Confused yet? No worries; we’re going to go step-by-step to clear it up.

Building the Augmented Sixth

Let’s start with a basic major scale:

• In C major, the notes are: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C.
• The sixth note of the scale is A, but for the augmented sixth chord, we lower it a half-step to A-flat.

Now, you start building the chord in the typical way stacking thirds, A-flat, C, E-flat. But for the top note, instead of the 7th, G-flat, you add the augmented sixth. So, you end up with this: A-flat, C, E-flat, F-sharp!

That interval between A-flat and F-sharp is what makes this chord augmented—it’s the same note on the piano as the 7th of a dominant chord, G-flat, but it’s written as an augmented sixth, F-sharp, so it resolves differently, which really has an unexpected sound.

The Resolution: Where It Gets Sneaky

Normally, you would expect a dominant seventh chord to resolve to the tonic (a V-I progression). But when you play an augmented sixth chord, it deceptively resolves to a key you didn’t see coming! For example, let’s go back to that C major scale. When you play the augmented sixth chord (A-flat, C, E-flat, F-sharp), it doesn’t resolve to a D-flat chord like you would expect since A-flat is the V of D-flat. (Dominant 7th chords are V7 chords that resolve to I.) Instead, it resolves outward to an entirely different key, C major or minor!. It’s this surprise resolution that gives the augmented sixth its sneaky, deceptive character.

Three Varieties of the Augmented Sixth Chord

Now, here’s the fun part—there are actually three different varieties of the augmented sixth chord, each with its own little twist. Let’s take a look at them:

1. The German Sixth

The German sixth is the most commonly heard form of the augmented sixth chord. It’s made up of the following notes: A-flat, C, E-flat, F-sharp. It has that dominant seventh sound, but again, instead of resolving to the tonic, it resolves outward, usually to C major or minor chord with G on the bottom, the second inversion of the tonic chord. It has a fresh, unexpected sound!

2. The French Sixth

The French sixth is similar to the German sixth but with a slight twist. Instead of using the perfect fifth interval (as in the German sixth), it replaces it with an augmented fourth. This creates a different flavor, almost like a little bit of spice added to the chord. So instead of A-flat, C, E-flat, F-sharp, it’s A-flat, C, D, F-sharp.

This chord can resolve to either the C major chord with G on the bottom, or to a G dominant 7th chord, G, B, D, F.

3. The Italian Sixth

The Italian sixth is a simpler version, where you omit the fifth note of the chord (E-flat) and you double the third, C. This is done to provide better resolution. So this chord can also resolve to C major or minor chord in second inversion (with the G on the bottom), but also can resolve to a G dominant 7th, G, B, D, F. It still gives you that dominant seventh sound, but without the problematic parallel fifths which composers avoid in music.

The augmented sixth chord is so interesting because it’s not just a chord—it’s a way of tricking your ear. You expect it to resolve in one direction, but it surprises you by resolving somewhere else. This chord has been used in classical and modern music to create tension, surprise, and harmonic color. Once you understand how it works, you’ll start hearing it in all kinds of music, from Bach to Chopin, and even in film scores. It’s one of those “ah-ha” moments in music theory!

Wrapping It UpTo recap, the augmented sixth chord is a deceptive chord that sounds like a dominant seventh chord but is built on the flatted sixth scale degree of a scale. It has three main varieties—German, French, and Italian—each with their own distinct flavor and resolution. They’re a great tool for composers to add some unexpected drama to a piece, and now you’ll know exactly why they sound so unique!

For another deceptive chord, check these out: