Julie Swihart

Augmented Chords

Let’s look at how to play an Aaug (A augmented) chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for playing any augmented chord.

What Are Augmented Chords?

Augmented chords are major chords with the upper-note raised 1/2 step.

This means to build an augmented chord we’ll start by building a major chord. Major chords are built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

Then to convert a major chord into an augmented chord, we’ll raise the upper note 1/2 step.

Chord Types Printable

Learn to play 17 types of piano chords using 12 different root notes with this 34-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note (C, D, E, etc.) and type (major, minor, etc.).

Get the Printable

How to Play an Aaug Chord

Now let’s build an Aaug chord on the piano. We’ll start with an A major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the A major scale: A – C♯ – E

To convert the A major chord into an Aaug chord, we’ll raise the upper-note E by 1/2 step, to E♯.

So to play an Aaug chord, we’ll play:

A – C♯ – E♯

You can use this pattern to build any augmented chord on the piano. First build the matching major chord, then raise the upper-note by 1/2 step.

Augmented chords can be written as “aug” or “+”. So a chord with the “+” symbol also indicates an augmented chord.

How to Label the Notes

Since an E♯ is the same note as an F, you may be wondering why we would label the Aaug chord as A – C♯ – E♯ instead of A – C♯ – F.

The reason is because the piano intervals used to build augmented chords are a root, a major third, and an augmented fifth (learn all about intervals here). A fifth up from A in the alphabet is E (A – B – C – D – E), so the proper way to label an augmented fifth is E♯ (F would indicate a sixth up from A).

Other Chord Types

There are many other chord types you can learn. Here are some others:

Major
Minor
Diminished
Second
Minor Second
Suspended
Fifth
Sixth
Minor Sixth
Seventh
Minor Seventh
Major Seventh
Ninth
Minor Ninth
Major Ninth

Conclusion

Now you know how to build an Aaug chord on the piano, and you can use that knowledge to build any other augmented chord. Augmented chords aren’t as common as major or minor chords, but it’s good to know how to build them for when you need them.

Using patterns is a wonderful way to learn chords and play piano!