Originally posted by TheDirt
You can tell whether the mode is major or minor by the distance between the first, third, and fifth notes of the mode.

Major = 4 S between root and 3rd, 3 S between 3rd and 5th
Minor = 3 S between root and 3rd, 4 S between 3rd and 5th
Augmented = 4 S between root and 3rd, 4 S between 3rd and 5th
Diminished = 3 S between root and 3rd, 3 S between 3rd and 5th

This is really handy information. I more or less knew about major/minor, but for the augmented and diminished, I wasn't that sure.

Just for the hell of it, an augmented chord, to me, (based on your description) seems like a chord which is almost like a mix of a major and a minor chord. You know, it's got the 4 S between the root and the third (as a major chord), while it's got the 4 steps between the 3rd and the 5th (as a minor chord).

Then again, the diminished I'd view as a 'very minor' chord. As the distance between the root and 3rd is the same as in a minor chord, but the distance between the 3rd and 5th is 3 S....well, now I just remembed that the distance is the same between the 3rd and 5th of a major chord as well, but what the hell. The diminished is still quite a dark chord.

I know, strange reasoning, but don't you agree, at least on a few points?