Augmented chords create suspense and sound a bit dissonant. An augmented chord consists of a ground note (the root), a major third and an augmented fifth. So, in a C major augmented chord (Caug) you'll hear a C, E and G#.
Did you know that augmented chords sound nearly identical in all inversions? Each note is always a major third above the one that came before it.
Usage
The most common way to integrate an augmented chord in your music is by using it as a passing chord. In this way you connect different chords while creating some tension and movement.
For instance it can make an instrumental bridge between the perfect fifth and major sixth, sometimes even continuing to the dominant and major seventh. This approach is played in either way, from the fifth to the seventh, or down from the seventh to the fifth. Another way is too higher the perfect fifth to create tension, and resolving it back. You will hear it very rarely used by itself because the interval from the root note (an augmented fifth) is too unstable and dissonant that it will sound off.
Pro tip: playing the augmented fifth as a minor sixth in a major key (from the major third up to the octave) makes the sound very much less dissonant and joyfull. Although it is actually the same interval (distance wise) it is actually very differently perceived.
The chord is used in every musical genre, although it might be less popular in pop. Especially, blues musicians tend to use many augmented chords in their compositions.
Examples
Augmented chords are very uncommon. Listen to the following songs to hear the augmented chord:
- The Beatles "Oh Darling!": Instead of using a standard dominant chord, you'll hear an augmented chord that leads into the verse.
- Chuck Berry "Shool Days": This song starts with a F# augmented chord.
- Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze": You'll hear an augmented chord in the riff.
- The Allman Brothers Band "Stormy Monday": Find the augmented chords in the turnarounds.
- The Milk Carton Kids "Stealing Romance": At the closing of each chorus.
- Abba "Mamma Mia": You'll hear many augmented chords in the intro.
