2. Home
  3. Music theory level 6
  4. Ch.6.11 Diminished and augmented triad

6.11 Diminished and augmented triad

 

Category: Harmony | Tags: Chords, Triads, Ear training: chords

Theory

In Chapter 6.8 Augmented fourth, diminished and augmented fifth you’ve learned what diminished and augmented fifths are. In this chapter, you will learn that there are two kinds of triads, namely the diminished triad and the augmented triad, which are build up by a minor third and a diminished fifth, or by a major third and an augmented fifth. In the videos and examples I show how to make diminished and augmented triads. You are goning to make them yourself in the exercises. You will also learn to distinguish diminished and augmented triads by ear.

1. What is a diminished triad?

The triad built on the seventh tone B in the C major scale (the seventh degree) is comprised of the notes B D F. The interval B D is a minor third and the interval B F is a diminished fifth.

diminished triad
The triad B D F is comprised of the minor third B D and the diminished fifth B F.

The triad with a minor third and a diminished fifth is called a diminished triad.

cd Diminished and augmented triad | Musictheory.educationThe diminished triad B D F

 

Video

Get the full course

 

Examples

How is a diminished triad build?

note example

piano example

2. Diminished triads

 

Examples

Which tones do you get if you make diminished triads on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

3. What is an augmented triad?

The triad built on the third tone C in the harmonic A minor scale (the third degree) is comprised of the notes C E G#. The interval C E is a major third and the interval C G# is an augmented fifth.

augmented triad
The triad C E G# is comprised of the major third C E and the augmented fifth C G#.

The triad with a major third and an augmented fifth is called an augmented triad.

cd Diminished and augmented triad | Musictheory.educationThe augmented triad C E G#

 

Video

Get the full course

 

Examples

How is an augmented triad build?

note example

piano example

4. Augmented triads

 

Examples

Which tones do you get if you make augmented triads on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

5. Practise

Harmony exercise 6f: practise to determine the third and fifth of a diminished and augmented triad

Harmony exercise 6g: practise making diminished and augmented triads on the natural note.

Harmony exercise 6h: practise making diminished and augmented triads on all notes.

Making inversions of diminished and augmented triads with a given root

 

Harmony exercise 6i: practise making inversions of diminished and augmented triads with given root on the natural notes.

Harmony exercise 6j: practise making inversions of diminished and augmented triads with given root on all notes.

Making inversions of diminished and augmented triads on a given note

 

Harmony exercise 6k: practise making inversions of diminished and augmented triads on the natural notes.

Harmony exercise 6l: practise making inversions of diminished and augmented triads on all notes.

Get the full course

6. Ear training

 

Practise

Ear Training exercise 6k: distinguishing the difference between a diminished and augmented triad in root position by ear.

Ear Training exercise 6l: distinguishing the difference between a diminished and augmented triad in root position by ear. The triads are only played harmonically.

Get the full course

Example question

Which triad do you hear?

Choise 1: diminished triad

Choise 2: augmented triad

 

Practical steps

Sing the triad being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which triad is being played.

Answer: diminished triad.