* This pattern requires a bigger stretch (5 frets) between the 1st and 4th fingers.
The augmented arpeggio consists entirely of consecutive major 3rds piled on top of one another.
A - C# = maj 3rd
C# - F = maj 3rd
F - A = maj 3rd
All inversions have the same pattern.
The augmented chord shape actually has three different names. To understand why this is so, examine the formula for an augmented chord, 1 3 #5. By applying this formula to the respective scales of each note in the scale, it may be seen that A+, C#+ and F+ all contain the same notes, so the same arpeggio can be used for all three chords.
Example 55 uses the notes of the A, C# and F augmented arpeggio pattern. The symbol X means a bigger stretch (5 frets) between 1st and 4th fingers.
The following table illustrates that the notes of the A+, C#+ and F+ chord are the same.
Because each arpeggio represents three different chords the complete range of augmented chords is covered by using the shape over four frets. This example refers to the 4th string.
At the first fret the augmented chord is F+, A+ or Db/C#+
At the second fret the augmented chord is F#/Gb+, Bb/A#+ or D
At the third fret the augmented chord is G+, B+ or D#/Eb+
At the fourth fret the augmented chord is Ab/G#+, C+ or E+
The easiest way to remember the three different augmented names involved in each shape is simply to read off the notes contained when that shape is held, i.e., if the augmented shape is played at the third fret and the individual notes are named (G B Eb G) this gives the three names of the augmented chord (G+, B+ and Eb+).
Conversely, if you wish to play a given augmented chord (C+) all you need to do is find a C note on any of the four strings, and then play the augmented arpeggio around it (the arpeggio you play will also produce an Ab+ or E+).
Example 56 uses augmented arpeggio pattern without the octave moving up the neck. The first note is C, therefore the chord is C+, E+ or G#+.
Example 57 uses augmented arpeggio pattern as illustrated, moving up the neck. The first note is Ab, therefore the chord is Ab+, C+ or E+.
The suspended chord (sometimes called a suspended 4th chord) is constructed from the major scale using the first (1), fourth (4) and fifth (5) notes of the scale. The symbol for a suspended chord is the abbreviation "sus" (or "sus4"), placed after the letter name of the chord. The suspended chord is a major chord with the fourth substituted for the third.
The F suspended (Fsus) chord for example, is based upon the notes of the F major scale.