Augmented, Diminished,Perfects, etc

[dingster1]

Ok we went through this in class today and I'm not clear on this. How can you tell the difference.
I thought all you had to do was count the keys: (i.e C-E= 5 keys=m4th???)
I just know we are going to get a quiz on this Monday. Can anyone clear this up for me???  I need reaally simple language too.... I'm a little slow

[B3Wannabe]

Augmented and Diminished have about 3 meanings

Augmented 1: A note that has been sharped; Changing C to C# in a chord is called augmenting.
Augmented 2: An augmented interval; It's when a 5th is sharped; A tri-tone.
Augmented 3: An augmented chord. C-E-G#; Written as "Caug"

Diminished 1: A note that has been flattened; Changing C to Cb in a chord is called diminishing.
Diminished 2: A diminished chord; C-Eb-Gb; Witten as "Cdim"

Perfect: A perfect interval; The distance between the root and the fourth or root and the fifth. If the root is the bass note and the fourth is played, the resulting interval is disonant, because it wants to resolve.


See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interval_(music)

[T-Block]

Here is a little breakdown of intervals:

Intervals of 1, 4, and 5  

These three intervals are the only intervals that get the name perfect intervals.  Here are examples of these:

C-C = perfect unison
C-F = perfect 4th
C-G = perfect 5th

Now, let's say for instance you decide to raise the last note by 1/2 step:

C-F#

Do you still have a perfect 4th?  No, now u have what is called an augmented 4th.  Anytime you raise the last note of a perfect interval it becomes an augmented unison, 4th, or 5th:

C-C# = aumented unison
C-F# = augmented 4th (tritone)
C-G# =  augmented 5th

Now, let's say for instance you decided to lower the last note by 1/2 step:

C-Fb

Do you still have a perfect 4th? No, now u have what is called a diminished 4th.  Anytime you lower the last note of a perfect interval it becomes a diminished unison, 4th, or 5th:

C-Cb = diminished unison
C-Fb = diminished 4th
C-Gb = diminished 5th (tritone)

Intervals of 2, 3, 6, 7

These intervals are different from the other 3 cuz they can be major, minor, augmented, or diminshed intervals.  First, I'll show the major intervals:

C-D = major 2nd
C-E = major 3rd
C-A = major 6th
C-B = major 7th

Now, to make these intervals minor, just lower the last note of the major interval 1/2 step:

C-Db = minor 2nd
C-Eb = minor 3rd
C-Ab = minor 6th
C-Bb = minor 7th

Now, to make these intervals augmented, just raise the last note or the major interal 1/2 step:

C-D# = augmented 2nd
C-E# = augmented 3rd
C-A# = augmented 6th
C-B# = augmented 7th

Now, to make these intervals diminished, just lower the last note or the major interal 1 whole step:

C-Dbb = diminshed 2nd
C-Ebb = diminished 3rd
C-Abb = diminished 6th
C-Bbb = diminished 7th

After you have reached the diminshed and augmented intervals, if the notes are raised and lowered again, it then becomes doubly augmented or diminished, triple augmented or diminished intervals, etc. 

[dingster1]

T-Block great answers! I'll have to review when we get that far!! Y'all keep praying. I'm trying very hard to move beyond my ear which is why I'm taking this course but Lord it's been 20 years since I sat in a class room!!!

[clcmusicchic]

Another way to look at an augmented chord is this way. The 5th in the chord is sharped. For example on the chord of C; C,E,G is a major chord. You sharp the G and it becomes augmented. The interval from C to E is a major third and the interval from E to G sharp is a third. In every key you sharp the 5th of the chord and you should have all major thirds.

Now for a diminished chord, you flat the 3rd and the 5th of the chord. For example on the chord of C; C,E,G which is the same example I used in the first one. You flat the E and the G and it becomes diminished. The interval from C to Eflat is a minor third and the interval from Eflat to Gflat is a minor third. In every key you flat the 3rd and the 5th and you should have all minor thirds.

[CESharp]

Hey T-block:
In your statement:
Do you still have a perfect 4th?  No, now u have what is called an augmented 4th.  Anytime you raise the last note of a perfect interval it becomes an augmented unison, 4th, or 5th:

C-C# = aumented unison
C-F# = augmented 4th (tritone)
C-G =  augmented 5th

should the G be a G# if it's augmented?

Also on your dimished statement:

C-Dbb = diminshed 2nd     (this is the same as an C - C)
C-Ebb = diminished 3rd     (this is the same as C - D)
C-Abb = diminished 6th    (this is the same as C - G)
C-Bbb = diminished 7th     (this is the same as C - A)

Am I right about the statements in parenthesis?

[T-Block]

should the G be a G# if it's augmented?

Yes, that was a typo in my part, it should be: C-G# = augmented 5th

C-Dbb = diminshed 2nd     (this is the same as an C - C)
C-Ebb = diminished 3rd     (this is the same as C - D)
C-Abb = diminished 6th    (this is the same as C - G)
C-Bbb = diminished 7th     (this is the same as C - A)

Am I right about the statements in parenthesis?

Yes, that's right.  Same sound and notes, but different if you see it on piece of sheet music.

[T-Block]

I changed the augmented 5th interval to the correct notes.  It's great being a moderator so I can edit my posts.

[outstretchedarm]

Hi ...this is my first post....God bless you all...

Can someone give an example of the uses of these augmented/dimished chords to get that Gospel feel?   I'm particularly interested in how augs/dim's are used as passing/transitional chords.

ideas?

[Jermaine19]

Outstretchedarm asked for an example of using augmented and diminished chords. How about trying to play the hymn, Just A Closer Walk with Thee. I utilizes a lot of augmented chords especially the first three notes. Such as C-E-G to C-E-G#. See the "G" was raised. This makes it augmented! If you play that, I think you will have a better understanding of this concept. Keep at it and may God Bless.

[RONNIEJR99]

Ok we went through this in class today and I'm not clear on this. How can you tell the difference.
I thought all you had to do was count the keys: (i.e C-E= 5 keys=m4th???)
I just know we are going to get a quiz on this Monday. Can anyone clear this up for me??? I need reaally simple language too.... I'm a little slow

OK "D" FROM A BEGINNER HERE GOES:

MAJOR R-3-5 (R=ROOT)
MINOR R-b3-5
DIMINISHED R-b3-b5
AUGMENTED R-3-#5THIS IS WHAT CLCMUSICCHIC SAID IN SHORT FORM

[T-Block]

She is not talking about chords here, she is talking about intervals.  Intervals are from one note to another note.  Examples:

C-E = major 3rd
F-Db = minor 6th
G-F# = major 7th
E-B = perfect 5th
A-A = perfect unison/octave
B-Cb = diminished 2nd
D-G# = augmented 4th (tri-tone)

[Dre2004]

also, you can associate the perfect fourth with a song such as the Bridal Chorus. say for instance C to F would be here comes the bride. That is how I learned my intervals.

[Naz-Jaz]

Well done T-Block! I was going to type an explaination, but yours is perfect.