How to Play Diminished and Augmented Triads in Jazz Guitar

A triad in music is three notes that are played together, also known as a chord. A major triad is the first, third and fifth notes in the diatonic scale. The third and fifth notes are diminished (flattened) in a diminished triad and the fifth note is augmented (sharpened) in an augmented triad.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Look at the notes in the major triad for the key of A major. The diatonic scale is A, B, Db, D, E, Gb, Ab and A again. The major triad is A, Db and E, so the diminished triad is A, C and Eb and the augmented triad is A, Db and F.

2. Form an E major barre chord at the fifth fret. The index finger frets all six strings across the fifth fret, the ring finger frets the fifth string at the seventh fret, the little finger frets the fourth string at the seventh fret and the middle finger frets the third string at the sixth fret.

3. Examine the notes played in this position on the four lowest strings (assuming standard EADGBE tuning). The sixth string is A, the fifth string is E, the fourth string is A and the third string is Db. A, E, A and Db gives us our major triad.

4. Make a diminished triad for the chord in Step 3. We keep the root note on the fourth and sixth string but flat the E on the fifth string and the Db on the third string. The easiest way to do this is usually to remove the ring finger from the fifth string and fret it at the sixth fret with the middle finger.

5. Play an augmented triad for the chord in Step 3. We keep the root note on the fourth and sixth string but sharp the E to an F on the fifth string. The easiest way to do this is usually to move the little finger to the eighth fret on the fifth string and replace the fretting of the fourth string on the seventh fret with the ring finger.