Hi there,

i was wondering if anyone could help me. I was going through 2007 grade 8 paper and answer sheet the other day, realised i dont understand the answer given in the answer sheet. It was from Paper S Question 4 (a). We are suppose to identify the chords marked * which is A Fb Cb G and C natural in the key of G minor. Can anyone explain to me why is the answer bII7d (flatten II seventh chord in 3rd inversion? Thanks a lot!

To the best of my understanding (others may disagree) the flattened II7c would be Eb G Ab C. It would sound pretty horrible: major sevenths can sound OK in root position, even better if in the spacing is open, but the minor second is very dissonant.

If your chord were spelt A E B G C it would be the 6th inversion of a major 13th on IV with the 9th and 11th omitted, but that merely shows how ridiculous it is to try to construct such a chord from thirds. As notated, it has a diminished octave in it, which makes it even more peculiar. How about first inversion of an augmented 9th with raised 3rd on doubly flattened VII, with 7th omitted and added augmented 5th?

Alternatively, have they printed the wrong question?

Look back to bar 19 and you'll see the clef changes to bass in the right hand part for the piano, making the notes , from the bottom, G Eb Ab C.

I'm just working through G7 past papers and they seem to do that trick once per exam

Thanks for pointing that out. I was feeling very stupid at being unable to answer the original question (in fact being completely flummoxed by it).