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Chapter 8 - Altered Chords and Arpeggios

guitar lesson 1
FORMULAS

Each group can contain an ALTERED version of a chord or an arpeggio. An altered chord or arpeggio contains a note that does not fit any of the seven modes, such as a sharp five. An altered chord or arpeggio creates more tension than an unaltered one.

The chart below contains some popular altered chord and arpeggio formulas.

Name	Formula	Most important degrees	Group	Relative modes
Augmented	1, 3, #5	1, 3, #5	altered major	altered 1, 4, 5
Augmented 7th.	1, 3, #5, b7	3, #5, b7	alt. dominant	alt. 1, 4, 5
Diminished 7	1, b3, b5, bb7	1, b3, b5, bb7	alt. dominant	alt. 2, 4, 6, 7
Dominant 7 flat 5	1, 3, b5, b7	3, b5, b7	alt. dominant	alt. 1, 4, 5
Major 7 flat 5	1, 3, b5, 7	3, b5, 7	altered major	altered. 1, 4, 5
Minor/major 7th.	1, b3, 5, 7	1, b3, 7	altered minor	altered 2, 4, 6

The next few pages contain an illustrated example of these chords and arpeggios. The examples contain only a few possible ways to play these chords and arpeggios. Try to figure out some other ways to play them. There are also chords not listed in the chart above. Try to figure out a few on your own.

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