Using Augmented Arpeggios to Create a G7♯5 Sound

Augmented arpeggios are one of the most effective ways to add tension and color to dominant chords. In this lesson, we'll look at an exercise that combines augmented arpeggios with the augmented scale to create a strong G7♯5 sound.

The Exercise

The line begins with a B augmented arpeggio (B–D#–F𝄪) played on the G, B, and high E strings. This arpeggio functions as an upper structure over G7, outlining the notes 3, ♯5, and root of the chord.

Although G7♯5 is the implied sound, the accompaniment does not necessarily need to include the ♯5 alteration. However, if the chord contains a natural 5th, it will clash with the melodically implied ♯5 since the two notes are only a half step apart. For this reason, it is often preferable to omit the 5th altogether and use a voicing that contains the root, 3rd, and 7th. If we want to go a step further, the root can also be omitted, leaving just the 3rd and 7th—the two notes that define the chord's quality and function. These notes, commonly called guide tones, provide a clear dominant sound while allowing the augmented line to supply the altered color.

After the initial B augmented arpeggio, the exercise continues through D♭, E♭, and F augmented arpeggios, moving up the neck in major-second cycles while maintaining the same intervallic structure. Because augmented triads are symmetrical, the shapes are easy to visualize and connect across the fretboard.

The line concludes with an augmented scale, beginning on F on the high E string and continuing to G on the low E string. This demonstrates how augmented arpeggios and scales can be combined to create longer melodic ideas over dominant chords.

Why Study Augmented Sounds?

Many guitarists become comfortable with diminished sounds over dominant chords but spend less time exploring augmented harmony. Augmented arpeggios offer a different type of tension than diminished arpeggios, producing a brighter and more open altered sound.

When used over a dominant chord, augmented structures can imply:

• Dominant 7♯5

• Dominant 7♯5♯9

• Altered dominant colors

• Whole-tone and augmented-scale sounds

These sounds are commonly heard in jazz, fusion, bebop, and modern improvisation.

https://youtu.be/SN7Lu8WeQbI

This demonstration shows how an augmented arpeggio can be used to create the distinctive sound of a G7♯5 chord. Notice how the symmetrical structure of the augmented arpeggio creates tension as it ascends the neck before resolving, making it a powerful improvisational tool over dominant seventh chords. Practice the lick in different keys and experiment with resolving it to the I chord to hear how this sound functions in a musical context.

Practice Tips

Start by practicing each augmented arpeggio separately until the shapes feel comfortable under your fingers. Once the individual arpeggios are secure, connect them smoothly and focus on maintaining consistent alternate picking throughout the exercise.

As you become comfortable with the pattern, try applying it over:

• V7 chords

• Jazz turnarounds

• Dominant chords that resolve to major or minor tonic chords

The goal is not simply to memorize the exercise, but to hear how the augmented arpeggios and augmented scale create tension that naturally resolves into the next chord.

Final Thoughts

This exercise is a great introduction to augmented harmony on the guitar. By combining symmetrical augmented arpeggios with the augmented scale, you'll strengthen your fretboard knowledge while developing vocabulary that can add a fresh altered sound to your improvisations.

Practice the exercise slowly, focus on clean alternate picking, and listen carefully to the way the G7♯5 tension wants to resolve. Over time, you'll begin hearing opportunities to incorporate augmented sounds into your own solos and lines.