Music Theory for Guitar | 7 | Diminished & Augmented Triads
Added 2021-02-12 14:00:05 +0000 UTCWhere to Start • Lesson Archive • Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private Lesson
Hi Everyone,
In this 7th installment of lessons, I'm going to help you get acquainted with Diminished and Augmented triads. In this overview lesson, I'll talk a little bit about HOW to make these chords and how they fit on the guitar. In the next set of homework lessons, I'll hone in on the main concepts to help the ideas get stuck in your head, and then we'll end with a nice play-along practice track.
Have a question? Ask on the weekly live Q&A, called Office Hours. Also, check out Practice Thoughts if you need help figuring out how to practice.
Here are the homework and practice sections for this lesson:
Please share your questions, homework, performances and whatever else you feel relates to this lesson on the community forum.
Congratulations! Once you've completed this lesson, along with it's homework and practice lessons, you've completed the first Music Theory For Guitar course. Follow the link below to move on to Octave Shapes.
Lessons in this Series:
Music Theory for Guitar | 1 | Major Scales
Music Theory for Guitar | 2 | Minor Scales
Music Theory for Guitar | 3 | Intervals
Music Theory for Guitar | 4 | Circle of Fifths
Music Theory for Guitar | 5 | Major Triads
Music Theory for Guitar | 6 | Minor Triads
Music Theory for Guitar | 7 | Diminished & Augmented Triads (current lesson)
Once you're done with this series, you'll know enough to move on to:
Music Theory Monday & CAGED System Basics
Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
SPJ Live YouTube Channel
Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
The animation is something I've been working on for years - can't share how I do it yet
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-07-16 19:17:51 +0000 UTCI'm really curious about the fretboard animation in 14:35, animate the notes played in really time, is this by algorithm? or video edition? I saw some other creators's video also used this kind of animation, I'm really curious, I'll be very appreciate if you could tell me the approach. By the way, your lesson is the best lesson I've ever seen, thanks for your effort.
秋昊 陈
2025-06-24 02:40:24 +0000 UTCHello Scott, There seems to be an error in the pdf attached to this page. On the very bottom there is an overview of the D triads. The most right one says 'D Aug Triad', but I believe it should be a 'D Dim Triad'.
Mark van Beekum
2022-10-29 07:46:19 +0000 UTCyou did screw the guitar on a wooden cradle, right? that's also interesting.
Jay
2021-12-12 11:37:15 +0000 UTCThat's a lovely song, short but catchy tune :-)
Andy
2021-02-25 16:19:52 +0000 UTCHaha ok. That’s kind of new. But you have sometimes more than 3c difference doing it. That means, if you think is 1c outside and you leave your beer there, you probably will have no more to drink in the next day. Because the real temperature would be -2c. Nope. Don’t leave the beer outside!
DeDé
2021-02-18 22:29:29 +0000 UTCCheck out the 10cc song..'I bought A Flat Guitar Tutor' for the use of some Augmented and Diminished chords in a song
Campbell Mathieson
2021-02-18 20:31:01 +0000 UTCGreat Lesson..loving this as always...getting to understand the theory is cool...ps 'sidetarak on the temperature thing. Best 2 points of reference (just reverse them) ..are 82F (28C) and 61F (16C)
Campbell Mathieson
2021-02-18 20:27:07 +0000 UTCBadass PDFs, dot guitar, clear graphics, etc etc. For a *mostly* visual learner, it makes all the difference.
Tasha McManus
2021-02-17 05:08:29 +0000 UTCThank you, as always for all your hard work and attention to detail
Tasha McManus
2021-02-17 05:07:38 +0000 UTCwow. thats some complicated math
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-02-14 22:27:51 +0000 UTCMajor way: (X °F − 32) × 5/9 = Y °C Diminished way: (X °F − 30) ÷ 2 = Y °C (approximate Celsius temperature) You owe me 2 beers and a Coffee now. ✌🏻
DeDé
2021-02-14 19:16:36 +0000 UTCI am a few days into these courses now and I am so happy that I signed up. Just getting comfortable with the terminology is huge. Now when someone says diminished or augmented I know what they are talking about - cool.
Mark Bennett
2021-02-12 23:49:34 +0000 UTC
![Murasaki [ムラサキ]](https://nokimo.com/istorage/44954.jpg)
