Learn Piano Chords - Diminished & Augmented Charts

If you want to learn piano chords, you're in the right place. In this lesson, we will learn how to build diminished  and augmented chords.

Let's start with diminished chords. We will learn two ways to form this chord.

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First method:

To build a diminished chord, combine the root, flat third and flat fifth of the major scale. Let's take the scale of C major as an example. The notes of the c major scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. To form a C diminished chord combine the root note, C, the flat third, E flat and the flat fifth, G flat. The notes of the C diminished chord are C-Eb-Gb. Another example, the notes of the G major scale are G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. To form a G diminished chord combine the root note, G, the flat third, Bb and the flat fifth, Db. 

Second method: 

To build a diminished chord simply take a major chord and flatten the third and fifth notes of the chord by a half step. For instance, to form an F diminished chord, you can take the F chord with the notes F-A-C and flatten A and C by a half step, resulting in F-Ab-Cb or an F diminished chord. 

Learn Piano Chords - Diminished Chords Chart

Let's take a look at 12 diminished chords on piano.

Here's C diminished, C# diminished, D diminished, E flat diminished, E diminished, F diminished, F# diminished, G diminished, A flat diminished, A diminished, B flat diminished and B diminished. 

Learn Piano Chords - Diminished Chords Chart

• The notes of the C diminished chord are C-Eb-Gb.
• The notes of the C# diminished chord are C#-E-G.
• The notes of the D diminished chord are D-F-Ab.
• The notes of the Eb diminished are Eb-Gb-Bbb (Bbb is the same as A on the piano).
• E diminished is formed by combining the notes, E, G and Bb.
• F diminished is formed by combining the notes, F, Ab and Cb (Cb is the same as B on the piano).
• F# diminished is formed by combining the notes, F#, A and C.
• G diminished is formed by combining the notes, G, Bb and Db.
• For Ab diminished, the notes are Ab-Cb-Ebb. (Ebb is the same as D on piano.)
• For A diminished, the notes are A-C-Eb.
• The notes of Bb diminished are Bb-Db-Fb. (Fb is the same as E key on piano.)
• And the notes of the B diminished chord are B-D-F.

Learn Piano Chords - Diminished Chords Chart

Learn 14 easy, basic piano chords in 6 keys here. Learn minor and major chords.

Learn Piano Chords - Augmented Chords Chart

Let's learn how to build an augmented chord.

First Method:

This chord is formed by combining the root, third and sharp fifth of the major scale. If you don't know how to form a major scale, I suggest that you visit www.piano-keyboard-guide.com and click on the link in the navbar which says "piano scales". 

Let's take the C major scale for example. The notes of this scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B. To form the C augmented chord, you combine the root note, C, the third, E and the sharp fifth, G sharp. So the notes of C augmented are C-E-G#. Another example: The notes of the G major scale are G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. To form the G augmented chord, you combine the root note, G, the third, B and the sharp fifth, D sharp. The notes of the G augmented chord are G-B-D#.

Second Method:

Another way of constructing an augmented chord is to simply take a major chord and raise the fifth note of the scale by a half step. For instance, to form F augmented, simply take an F major chord whose notes are F-A-C and raise C by a half step to C#. The notes of F augmented are F-A-C#.

Here's a diagram showing all 12 augmented chords on piano. These chords are the C augmented chord, the C# augmented chord, the D augmented chord, the Eb augmented chord, the E augmented chord, the F augmented chord, the F# augmented chord, the G augmented chord, the Ab augmented chord, the A augmented chord, the Bb augmented chord and the B augmented chord.

Learn Piano Chords - Augmented Chords Chart

• The notes of the C augmented chord are C E G#
  
• The notes of the C# augmented chord are C# E# G## (G## is the same as A key.)
• The notes of the D augmented chord are D F# A#
• The notes of the Eb augmented chord are Eb G B
• E augmented is formed by combining the notes, E G# B# (B# is the same as C key.)
• F augmented is formed by combining the notes, F A C#
• F# augmented is formed by combining the notes, F# A# C## (C## is the same as D on piano keyboard.)
• G augmented is formed by combining the notes, G B D#
• To construct Ab augmented, combine the notes Ab C and E
• To construct A augmented combine A C# E# (E# is the same as F key.)
• For Bb augmented, it's Bb D and F#.
• And for B augmented, the notes are  B D# F## (F## is the same as G key on piano.)

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