Ukulele · Level 6 · Intermediate
Augmented chords in G major on Ukulele
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Raising the fifth of a major chord gives the augmented chord, a suspenseful sound that pushes towards IV. Combined with a minor iv it creates a bittersweet phrase.
G
Notes: G · B · D
Gaug
Notes: G · B · D♯
C
Notes: C · E · G
Cm
Notes: C · E♭ · G
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: G, Gaug, C and Cm. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
- Set the tempo to 63 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Move only the fifth up a half step to make the augmented chord.
- Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
- Raise the tempo to 84 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a single rising inner line from the fifth to the sixth.
Listen for
Aim for a single rising inner line from the fifth to the sixth. A common mistake is re-fretting the whole chord instead of moving one note.
Why it works
The raised fifth becomes the third of IV; the minor iv is borrowed from the parallel minor key.
G major has 1 sharp; its relative minor key is E minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–I+–IV–iv in G major?
In G major the progression is G | Gaug | C | Cm.
What is the key signature of G major?
G major has 1 sharp. Its relative minor is E minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 6 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Diminished passing chords”.
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