Augmented chords Add a bit of spice to your chords

Give it a try

Audio file

Listen to the audio files and follow along on your own keyboard

Augmented chords

Add a bit of spice to your chord progressions with an augmented chord

Augmented chords can liven up a piece of music, but should be used sparingly. As with the other triads, an augmented chord is formed of a root, a third and a fifth note, but the key difference between an augmented chord and a simple major/minor chord is that each note is a major third (four semitones) apart. For example, where C would be formed of the notes C, E and G, C augmented (notated as C+) would be formed of C, E, G#. The interval between the third and fifth note has been increased (or augmented) by one semitone, thus technically a minor augmented chord cannot exist. At first an augmented chord may sound a little odd, but used as a transition between two chords they can become powerful melodic tools. If you play C in its root position, try moving your fifth finger from G to G# while keeping your thumb and third finger on C and E. Now move from C+ to F in its second inversion (C, F, A). Hear how the dissonance provided by the G# has now created an interesting transition between C and F? We will practise this further in the next section. If the augmented chord does not start on its root note it is called an inversion. G+ in the first inversion would begin on the major third (B), while in the second inversion the chord would begin on the augmented fifth itself (D#). The common fingering used is 5-3-1 in the left hand and 1-3-5 in the right.

“At first an augmented chord may sound a little odd, but used as a transition between two chords they can become powerful tools” Using augmented chords

Augmented chords work beautifully as transition chords

G augmented (G-B-D#)

First play the chord in its root position. Remember, an augmented chord is simply the major triad with a raised perfect fifth. Once you are comfortable with the chord in both hands try moving through the first and second inversions.

C augmented as a transition (C-E-G#)

Repeat the exercise with C augmented. Once you feel confident, practise moving between C major and C augmented in the right hand by moving your fifth finger up one semitone. Now try transitioning to F in its second inversion.