What is the difference in sound between an augmented and diminished chorD? An augmented chord (triad) has a # (or raised) 5th degree.. so its like playing Major thirds on top of each other..
Caug = C E G#
A diminished chord (triad) has a b (or lowered 3rd) and a b(or lowered 5th).. so its like playing minor thirds on top of each other
Cdim = C Eb Gb
On 7th chords.. they are either half diminished or fully diminished.. and this is indicated by the o sign (fully dim) or the o with a / through it.. (1/2 dim)
C half diminished = C Eb Gb Bb
C fully diminished = C Eb Gb Bbb (A) if you were to write the chord in terms of intervals an augmented chord would be built on two major 3rd triads...so C-E is a M3 and E-G# is a M3, however a diminished chord is built on m3 tridads, so your chord would be C-Eb and then Eb-Gb...hope that helps!!! these are the way the chords are constructed everytime! Difference in construction:
In any setting, to augment something is to make it larger, and to diminish something is to make it smaller. A triad, as you know, is built of two stacked thirds, and most triads on the white keys (diatonic C major) will consist of both a minor third and a major third.
A diminished triad, then, is a regular triad made smaller into two stacked minor thirds. The only one that appears on the white keys starts on B. Note that the top note, when the intervals are written as 3rds, appears on the staff like a 5th but sounds like a tritone; this interval is known as a diminished 5th, which is where the chord gets its name.
An augmented chord, conversely, comes when the triad is augmented out to two stacked major thirds. Note that the second note appears (on the staff) a fifth away from the root but sounds like a minor 6th; this interval is known as an augmented 5th, which is where the chord gets its name.
Note that the term "diminished chord" is ambiguous, as it could refer to either a diminished triad (three notes, like B D and F) or a diminished 7th chord, which stacks another minor third (in this example, A flat). Note that the interval between the bottom note and the top note, when the chord is written as three stacked thirds, appears as a 7th but sounds like a major 6th. This interval is known as a "diminished 7th" as it is a normal (minor) seventh, made smaller.
Difference in sound:
The diminished chord of any type sounds unresolved and the diminished 7th, especially, can sound very dramatic. The augmented triad sounds a bit alien as it does not appear in the diatonic scale, and can give a very eerie or dream-like impression. |
