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Home > Guitar ChordsAugmented & Diminished Chords

Guitar Chord Theory
Part 2 - Augmented & Diminished Triads

In guitar chord theory part 1, we learned about constructing major and minor triads on the guitar using the major scale.

The other two chord forms in the triad "family" are augmented and diminished chords.

Just like major and minor triads, these contain just 3 notes (hence, triad!).

Let's look at how to draw these chords from the major scale...



Augmented chords

Augmented chords/triads are used a lot in jazz and blues. They sound quite unstable and tense when used in a chord progression so they must be used wisely and appropriately in a progression.

Augmented triads are basically major chords with a sharp 5th which means you take the 5th tone of the major scale and move it one half step (one fret) up.

1  3  #5

So if we form an augmented chord with the E string as the root, we get something like this...



If the root (1) note lied on C, that would be C augmented or Caug for short.

You can see how we've built that particular chord form around its related major scale pattern, remembering to sharpen that 5th tone...

                 

Note, that it's only necessary to include the 3 notes in the triad - in the example above we've included a second root (1) an octave higher on the D string, but this isn't necessary. Keep this in mind when you're forming chords around the neck and you want a particular voicing that can't accomodate more than 3 or 4 strings on the guitar.

Side note: get a head start and learn the major scale in 8 patterns and positions on the fretboard.

Let's also look at an augmented chord shape with the A string as the root. First, the major scale starting on the A string...  

                 

Note: there are obviously more than two positions/patterns for the major scale - the two we've been referencing up to now are built around the E-shape and A-shape barre chords. Later, we'll look at the major scale in numerous different patterns and shapes.

So using the scale above, we'll create another augmented chord by sharpening that 5th...



The important thing is to visualize and memorize the original major scale position of the Root, 3rd and 5th and then you'll find sharpening or flattening notes (not just the 5th!) much easier to picture. Also remember that this scale is movable depending on the root note of the chord. As the root note changes position/fret, the scale shifts with it, still maintaining its interval pattern.

Take time to look at the huge number of augmented chord variations you can learn all over the fretboard by using JamPlay's excellent chord chart.


Diminished chords

Diminished triads are basically minor chords with a flat 5th

1  b3  b5

Simply remember:

Aug = major, sharp 5th

Dim = minor, flat 5th

Let's look at a diminished chord built around the E form pattern (E string root note). We already know that minor refers to a flat 3rd, so this becomes part of the diminished (minor flat 5th) triad...



See how the 5th has been flattened from its original major scale position. If the root note was F, the chord would be written as Fdim.

And on the A string...


Study in your own time...

Again, I need to stress that there are more than just two positions for the major scale but if you can find (for example) the 3rd and 5th notes for the chord you want, then you can see where they also lie on other strings via the gift of the ears!

In the next guitar chord theory lesson we'll cover 7th chords which can be seen as the first extensions of the triads we've looked at.

See you soon hopefully!

Go Straight to Part 3 - 7th Chords


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