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Rimsky-Korsakov, Practical Manual of Harmony in English

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 19 of 96

Succession of the Two Sixth Chords of the Fourth and Fifth Degrees

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§19. — 1) In the sixth chord of the fourth degree, double the root, and in the sixth chord of the fifth degree, double the fifth of the root.

2) Two of the upper parts move in parallel, and one by contrary motion to the bass:

Two pairs of chords illustrating rules 1-2: the sixth chord of IV to the sixth chord of V, two upper parts moving in parallel and one in contrary motion to the
Fig. 78 · See it in the reader

3) In the minor mode, the bass of the sixth chord of the fourth degree takes an accidental, to avoid the motion of an augmented second:

Minor-mode illustration of rule 3 (A minor): the bass of IV6 is raised to F sharp; caption 'Melodic minor scale'
Fig. 79 · See it in the reader

REMARK. — In this case, to avoid forbidden successions (parallel fifths), the sixth chord of the fourth degree must have its root in melodic position (in the soprano).