Remember we have dealt with how we can construct major and minor chords on the bass guitar. If i should select a note on the bass guitar, you should be able to produce the major and minor shape that consists of the notes(chord tones).

We are going to be dealing with the Augumented chord today. Remember that on the bass guitar when we talk about chords, it is slightly different from playing chords on the piano or rhythm guitar. To play a chord on the bass guitar, we play the notes that consist of the chord individually.

An augumented chord raises the fifth by half. It is symbolized as C+.

Now what do we mean by “raises the fifth by half”

if we have this major chord now on the key of C:      1     3     5

C     E    G

So if we raise the fifth by half we are going to have

1   3   5#
C   E   G#   which is an augumented chord. It is as simple as that.

Remember that the white circle stands as the root note of the chord. 

In our just concluded lesson on major chord triads on the bass guitar, we learnt to play the major triad of any note. Now let us see how we can play
the minor chord triad of any note on the bass guitar. Are you ready? Let’s go.

The shape for the minor chord triad is:

Remember that the white dots represent the root note of the triad. So if you pick any note on your bass guitar, taking that note as the root and following this shape or pattern above, you have succesfully played the minor triad of that note. Look at the sequence below so that you can know which and which notes to play first.

I hope you understand how to play the minor of any note now. And also the major of any note on the bass guitar.

Now this is the part we have been waiting for. Let’s go to the next lesson of the application of of these major and minor chord triads.

What is a chord?
 
A chord is a combination of three or more notes taken from a related scale. Piano and guitar(rhythm) players may play
all notes of the chord at the same time but as a bass guitar player, you are required to play the notes of a chord one at a time.

What is a triad?

A triad is the basic chord form of any scale.

The root + 3rd + 5th
 Let us take a look at the major and Minor triad for now

  The difference between a major and minor triad is simple. You can know the difference by listening to the sound.

A major triad has a happy sound (1+ 3 + 5)

A minor triad has a sad sound (1 + b3 + 5)

Now this part is very importand because I will be showing you how to play the major chord or triad of any note on the bass guitar.

Look at the  diagram below for the shape of the major triad on the bass guitar:

The white dots stand for the root note. Dont forget that the numbers represent the fingers:

1 – pointer
2 – middle finger
4 – pinky finger

So if you want to play the major chord triad of any note, this is the shape you would follow. Just put the note as the white note in the diagram above and  follow the sequence. see a detailed explanation of the sequence or movement.

Now that you know how to play the major chord triad of any note on the bass guitar. You need to start practicing it. So you wont forget. Let us move over to the next stage  of developing minor chord triads on the bass guitar. It is very simple.