The added sixth in a major chord expresses
warmth and security
The added sixth in a
major chord, can convey profound togetherness, a feeling of
warmth and emotional
solace. Even Ludwig
van Beethoven made
use of this effect, and in
today’s pop music, the
chord continues to create the same impression.
the piece. The following examples demon-
The chord does not
always have this effect,
however. There is a
small trick which inverts
its character, however
when this happens, the
chord does not express
comfort, but a feeling
of being forlorn. The
decisive point here is
the listener’s orientation towards the key of
strate the point:
Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven
53