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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 construct
these chords tone by tone. This will allow you to create chord voicings
anywhere on the fretboard. Make sure, however, you have a good
understanding of the fretboard to underpin what we're
learning.
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.
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...
As you learn the fretboard you'll naturally see chord forms appear
all over the fretboard, giving you several voicings for the same chord.
Use this interactive
learning software to help develop your fretboard and chord
knowledge.
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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