Neapolitan Seconds - Mine Won't Work :(, terrible terrible example enclosed Options

[Satine]

Okay, so probably I'm being incredibly, incredibly stupid. But I've just started playing at setting the Confutatis and I am trying, desperately, to get a Neapolitan second chord to work.

There is no reason why it shouldn't. It's before chord V, and it's effectively taking the place of chord IV. But it isn't working. It sounds horrible.

Voyez, s'il vous plait.

(IMG:http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/satineladiamant/neapolitanstupid.jpg)

Apologies for the terribly drawn-in clefs (that's bass in the vocal line, then treble, treble, bass) and key *hides in shame*.

I quite obviously don't understand Neapolitan chords like I thought I did. I can't figure out how the chromatic resolves (since shouldn't it fall to the tonic? But there's no tonic note in the dominant chord, so I don't see how it can work as a cadential preparation...) Everything I've read reckons it goes to the third, but it sounds awful.

Quite apart from this, I've got a false relation in the vocal line now (E natural against Eb in the chord) and if I change it to fit in with the harmony it sounds terrible. Can you only use a Neapolitan second if there's no supertonic in the melodic line? Or is it just *my* melodic line that doesn't work?

Am I, in fact, just flogging a dead horse?

Apologies for being stupid *wonders how she is ever going to get on to a music degree course*. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

-Emma

[bourdon16]

Do you mean a Neapolitan 6th? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neapolitan_chord
It's the first inversion of a chord built on the flattened supertonic.

[jm-hamilton]

Hi
Don't know very much about Neapolitan 6ths yet as only working through Grade 7, but my book says it's a major chord, so you'll need a Bb in the chord. Also the bass note (the G in your example) is usually doubled.

If you put a Bb in the chord you'll get another false relation against the b natural in the vocal. If it was me I'd have another go at the vocal line if you really want to use the Neapolitan 6th.

Also in your chord V you've got a C (3rd stave down) against a C#(vocal line and 2nd stave down).

[ShArOn_StAr92]

in your chord, the Eb and the E is also a false relation, C# and C is also a false relation... moreover, in neapolitan 6th, 3rd of the chord is doubled...

for Neapolitan 6th, it usually resolves to V or V7... or, it may also goes to 1c or 1b before it resolves...

actually, i personally feels that if you replace E with Eb, it doesnt sound awful.. it sounds quite okay too...


ShArOn

[bourdon16]

Try here! Excellent site. http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/hf/6nap.htm

[petrat]

A Neapolitan 2nd is a major chord built upon the flattened supertonic of the scale and because it is usually used in its first inversion it is known as a Neapolitan 6th. Perhaps you could show more clearly what part(s) were given if any and if there is a key signature and why you want to add a neapolitan 6th there. If it is your own setting and you are in the key of D minor the notes of the Neapolitan 6th will be Eflat, G and B flat. with G as your bass note. That chord is not going to work with the top line that you show. There are several chords that will work though. Just not that one. Sorry. If you do have a key signature of D minor then you could add a flat before all of the E's that you have, and perhaps alter the C natural in the second bar of the third stave (down) to avoid the consecutive octaves. Then you will be OK. It will not be a plain Neapolitan 6th though. It will be a Neapolitan 6th with an added 7th. Good luck with your setting.