Week 15 - Day 1A: The A Augmented (A+) Chord The A Augmented (A+) chord looks like this: Here we have the notes A, F, and C#. The "+" sign you see is a common expression on how to play an 'augmented' chord. Augmented chords are unstable, or tense sounding chords. They are typically written as + or aug. They are usually used as a passing chord between to other chords because of the tension in their sound. They also tend to be led by that sharp 5th to the next half step up. The augmented chord formula is: 1-3-#5 (or +5) This is 1 note different than playing a major triad (which is just a major chord) When to use the Augmented Chord? The simplest answer to this is sparingly. Not because it doesn t sound good but because it s a tension chord. To my ears, the augmented chord really wants to go either directly to the 1 chord or get their shortly. The reason for this is called chord leading. 1. Let s take a D augmented chord. D (1) F# (3) A# (#5) 2. Now let s take a G major chord. G (1) B (3) D (5) 3. Now here s a little fact in chord theory if you build a chord on every note of a major scale (7 chords in all) 2 of those chords in particular really want to get back to the root chord (the chord built on the 1st note of the major scale) o Those 2 chords are the 5 chord (the chord built on the 5th note of the major scale) and the 7 chord. o Now why is that? well because of physics and stuff that s too complicated for me to understand, the 5th note and the 7th note just want to resolve to the 1 note. 4. So let s compare the D augmented triad and the G major triads 5. All the notes of the D augmented triad are leading notes to the G major o the D is the 5th of G so it naturally want to go to G o the F# is the 7th of G so it naturally wants to go to G o and the A# is the 7th of B so it really wants to land on B o ALL the notes want to move to their landing notes in G 6. This pretty much works for all Aug chords the 5th aug resolves to the 1 major chord
Augmented Chord Notes A = A C# E# B = B D# F## C = C E G# D = D F# A# E = E G# B# F = F A C# G = G B D# Before You Begin... Just like with the dim7 chords, these augmented chords share some additional names. The A+ chord is also a C#+ and an F+ (or "A aug. = C# aug. and F aug.) Practice playing the A+ (C#+ and F+) Now we need to look at the fretboard for logical areas in which the A, F, and C# notes appear:
IMPORTANT: We will not be using fingerstyle for augmented chords. These chords are tension chords and should be used very sparingly.
Week 15 - Day 1B: The B Augmented (B+) Chord The B Augmented (B+) chord looks like this: Here we have the notes B, G, and D#. Before You Begin... Just like with the dim7 chords, these augmented chords share some additional names. The B+ chord is also a D#+ and G+ (or B aug. = D# aug. and G aug.) Practice playing the B+ (D#+ and G+) Now we need to look at the fretboard for logical areas in which the notes B, G, and D# appear:
Week 15 - Day 1C: The C Augmented (C+) Chord The C Augmented (C+) chord looks like this: Here we have the notes C, G#, and E Before You Begin... Just like with the dim7 chords, these augmented chords share some additional names. The C+ chord is also a G#+ and E+ (or C aug. = G# aug. and E aug.) Practice playing the C+ (G#+ and E+) Now we need to look at the fretboard for logical areas in which the notes C, G#, and E appear:
Week 15 - Day 2A: The D Augmented (D+) Chord The D Augmented (D+) chord looks like this: Here we have the notes D, A#, and F# Before You Begin... Just like with the dim7 chords, these augmented chords share some additional names. The D+ chord is also a F#+ and A#+ (or D aug. = F# aug. and A# aug.) Practice playing the D+ (F#+ and A#+) Now we need to look at the fretboard for logical areas in which the notes D, A#, and F# appear:
Week 15 - Day 3A: The A Augmented 7 (A7+) Chord The A7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes A, F, G, and C# The augmented 7th chord Formula: Common Abbreviations: 1 3 5# 7b +7, 7#5, 7(#5), 7(+5), 7/5+, 7+, 7+5, 7aug5, aug7 Most popular root: G, A, Ab, Bb, B 7+5 is a 7th chord with a raised or sharpened 5th, hence the +5 or #5. They are often used as Chord V in either a major or minor key and are commonly found in Jazz progressions. Practice playing the A7+ chord.
Week 15 - Day 3B: The B Augmented 7 (B7+) Chord The B7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes A, D#, G, and B (the B is the root on the B string open) Practice playing the B7+ chord. Week 15 - Day 4A: The C Augmented 7 (C7+) Chord The C7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes A#, E, G#, and C (C is the root on the first fret of the B string) Practice playing the C7+ chord.
Week 15 - Day 4B: The D Augmented 7 (D7+) Chord The D7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes C, F#, A#, and D (D is the root on the first fret of the B string) Practice playing the D7+ chord. Week 15 - Day 4C: The E Augmented 7 (E7+) Chord The E7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes D, G#, C, and E (E is the root on the open HIGH E string) Practice playing the E7+ chord.
Week 15 - Day 5A: The F Augmented 7 (F7+) Chord The F7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes D#, A, C#, and F (F is the root on the 1st fret of the HIGH E string) Practice playing the F7+ chord. Week 15 - Day 5B: The G Augmented 7 (G7+) Chord The G7+ chord looks like this and contains the notes F, B, D#, and G (G is the root on the 3rd fret of the HIGH E string) Practice playing the G7+ chord.