Augmented Chords

Diminished and Augmented Chords

A diminished chord has the root, a minor (flattened) 3rd, as well as a diminished (flattened) 5th. For example, a C diminished chord has the notes C, E♭ and G♭.

An augmented chord has the root, a major 3rd, and an augmented (sharpened) 5th. For example, a C augmented chord has the notes C, E, and G#.

A C diminished chord is represented by "C dim" or "C°". A C augmented chord is represented by "C⁺ " or "C aug." .

Inversions in music occur when the notes in a triad or seventh chord are rearranged so that a different note is in the lowest position of the chord. Figured bass numbers are added to Roman numerals to identify the type of inversion. Keep in mind that the root refers to scale degree one in a key, while bass refers to the lowest note of the chord.

What does the “M” mean? Click here.

As you can imagine, if you were using scale degree numbers instead of Roman numerals to identify chords, adding the inversion numbers could get confusing.