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Chord a Day, February 24th - A+
Learn a new Ukulele chord every day of the year. The chord for February 24th is A+.
Augmented chords ( aug or + ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the names of the rest of the chord. For this lesson we just went with A as the root, letter name of the chord.
Augmented Chord (+)
Augmented chords ( aug or + ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the names of the rest of the chord. For this lesson we just went with A as the root, letter name of the chord.
An Augmented Triad consisting of 1 3 #5 of it's corresponding Major Scale based on the root of the chord. Visit and download the A Guide to Advanced Chord Series — Chord Building Chart for ALL 15 major scales and their intervals/chord tones.
Harmonic Function for A+
The Harmonic Function of a chord is simply how is a chord being used, in context with other chords in a song or chord progression. Here are the most common harmonic functions for today's chord.
Augmented triads as in today's chord do not show up in traditional major or their relative minor keys. They do show up in progressions and songs based on the Melodic Minor scale and key (rare).
Open Position Chords
Today's chord, A+ is an Open Position chord.
Open Position Chords are any chord in the first four frets that include at least one open string.
Learn a New Chord Each Day!!!
This Learn a New Chord Each Day!!! series of lessons was created and published in 2013 (10yrs ago) and has been added to an expanded ever since. 2020 brought videos to the show. 2023 is bringing more Harmonic information.
For a further exploration of this chord and its movable forms visit the Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series page.
To find out even more than you would ever need to know about a A+ chord — continue reading .
A+ is a Core Chord
A core chord is a basic chord that other chords can be derived from - creating new chords from your known chords. Your ever expanding set of core chords creates a solid foundation for playing music on ukulele or any instrument capable of playing chords. There are just far too many chord shapes to memorize all the possibilities. Some chords you can simply create on the fly as needed based on known information and how chords work.
Chord Type(s): Augmented
Chord Categories: Open Position Triad
Related Lesson: Understanding a Chord Diagram
Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns and are almost entirely learned by shape and sound – hopefully, the chords' name. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.
Standard Music Notation and TAB
The same numbering notation of TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003 indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position D7 indicated as 2020.
As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally, Standard Music Notation , TAB , in text, graphically using a Chord Grid , etc.
Chord Spelling
Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.
The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.
The notes for A+ are:
A C# E#
The chord tones are the 1 3 #5 scale degrees of the parent A Major Scale .
A+, an augmented chord (aug or +) is a neutral chord with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a major third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord.
If you “REALLY” know the notes of the ukulele fingerboard you only need an open position augmented chord and it's movable form.
Today's chords augmented chords in addition to Aaug could also have been called C#aug, E#aug or Faug. All depends on what the root is.
Recommended Fingering
Although additional fingerings are possible for many chords. Fingering for any given chord depends the science of how our fingers work and on the harmonic context the chord is being used in, what was the previous chord and what's the next chord. The goal is to play all the notes right behind the frets when possible. Remember longer fingers can reach the lower strings better and finger two and stack on finger three and finger three can stack on finger four.
Although you can play any chord with any finger — as long as it's yours, the recommended fingering for A+ is:
Recommended Fingering
4 2 3 0
Alternate Fingering(s)
Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s A+ chord depending on the context the chord is being used.
Alternate fingering(s) for A+:
- 0 3 0 4.
Fingering Notation
Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.
A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.
Fingering Chords
Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers can reach the lower string four and three goes a long way to being efficient when switching chords.
Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret takes less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency in play, lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four and finger two can overlap finger three a little allowing them to get closer to the fret.
Remember – the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers – not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines BUT is a critical member of the team.
Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals
ALL chords can be be constructed based on the their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.
The chord tones for A+ are: A C# E#
A+ is the 1 3 #5 of the A Major Scale based on the root (A) of the chord.
Next Steps
After memorizing todays A+ chord and able to switch in time with other chords. The next step is adding various Strums , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.
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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Chord a Day, February 24th - A+
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Chord Shapes and Learning `Ukulele Chords
Pick up any chord dictionary, and one thought that should go through your mind is - TOO MANY CHORDS There is now way to memorize all those shapes. It would be better off learning how they came up with all those shapes. Most chord dictionaries are also just like pages transposed to all possible keys.
Movable `Ukulele Chords
A series of weekly ukulele lessons originally presented throughout 2007 on movable ukulele chords as the "Ukulele Chord of The Week Series". Based on the Ukulele Chords book by Curt Sheller (me). It takes the open position chords and shows the movable form and the variations.
The Harmonized Major and Minor Scale Charts
The "Major Scale" or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do), the Do in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the root.
Transposing Individual `Ukulele Chords
"Transposition" is the process of moving a note, chord, scale or any musical passage from one key to another key. All music can be transposed, from a single note to a complex musical score. This lesson deals with transposing chords on ukulele and transposing chords.
Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Chord a Day, February 24th - A+
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Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Chord a Day, February 24th - A+
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A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
Books
Reference Charts
Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes
A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4