How to Play the Augmented Triad in Five Positions

title: how to play augmented triads in five patterns — Ttitle how to play augmented triads

Major, minor, diminished (links to my webpages), and now the augmented triads are the four triads to learn how to play before moving onto four-note chords which adds another third. Before we learn how to play the augmented triad in five positions, we will learn how to build the augmented triad.

How to Build the Augmented Triad

The notes from a G major triad equal G, B, and D. These notes are the 1, 3, and 5 of a G major scale. The augmented triad formula compared to the major triad is altered by raising the 5th of the triad, which is D#. This makes the formula 1, 3, #5. The G and B stay the same.

Just like the major and minor chords often consist of four, five, and six strings to play these chords, they have only three different notes. The extra strings just help to fill out the sound by doubling some of the notes. You can do the same to augmented chords, most likely just adding another note from the chord.

Augmented Symbols

The main symbols associated with augmented chords are an abbreviated aug and the plus symbol (+). For example, G aug and G+.

Augmented Chord Shapes

Chord Progressions

You can use augmented chords to return to the beginning of a chord progression. For example, take the chord progression C, Am, F, and G. On the G instead of playing a G or G7, play G+. This creates more tension to lead back to C. So the progression will be C, Am, F, and G+.

This is just one example of where to use the augmented chord.

First Position

I use the G major scale in reference to the G augmented triad. It has two of the notes in a G augmented chord or triad. The two notes are G and B and the other note you have to raise a half step up to make it D# from the D note in the G major scale.

Second Position

G augmented with root on 4th string — G augmented chord in 4th position

Third Position

G augmented chord in 7th position — Seventh position G augmented chord

Fourth Position

G augmented chord in 11th position — 11th position G augmented

Fifth Position

G augmented chord 12th position — G augmented chord at the 12th position

The Symetrical Augmented Chord

Every five frets this chord repeats. It uses the same shape, but the notes are in a different order. If it repeats every five frets, there are technically only four augmented chords. Four chords with each having three notes cover all 12 notes of the chromatic scale.

Also since it has only three notes, each augmented triad can have any one of its notes as the root note. This is because all three notes are a major third apart. This divides the root note and octave evenly because if you play every five frets you will eventually arrive back to a root note of the chord.

This can also make progressions interesting. Instead of thinking of the G aug as G aug, it could also be considered B aug and D# aug. Instead of leading back to C major, the progression could take a different course in the shape of a key change. For B aug as the five chord, your next chord would be E major. For the D# aug, or you could think enharmonically as Eb, your next chord could be Ab major.

In Conclusion

This is not all you can do with the augmented chord. Seek out other examples to expand your knowledge of how to use this interesting chord. Find a backing track on YouTube and practice using the augmented triad in soloing or chording.

Do not forget to sing or hum the sound of this triad and the other three triads. This will help you in ear training. Use words to describe the sound. For example happy for major, sad for minor, scarry for diminished, and cartoonish for augmented. Think of your own if these words do not work for you.

As always, have fun practicing!