Augmented Chords

Let’s look at how to play an F sharp augmented chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for building any other augmented chord.

What Are Augmented Chords?

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

So to build an augmented chord, we’ll start by building a major chord. We can build a major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

Then to convert the 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 35-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note and type.

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How to Play an F Sharp Augmented Chord

So to play an F sharp augmented chord, we’ll start by building an F sharp major chord. We can build an F sharp major using the first, third and fifth notes of the F sharp major scale: F♯ – A♯ – C♯

Then we’ll raise the upper-note 1/2 step, to C♯♯

You may be wondering why we would label this note as “C♯♯” instead of “D”. The reason is because when we build this chord we’re taking the fifth note of the F sharp major scale and raising it 1/2 step. Since the fifth note of the F sharp major scale is “C♯”, when we raise it 1/2 step, we label it as “C♯♯”.

So to play an F sharp augmented chord on the piano, we’ll play:

F♯ – A♯ – C♯♯

We can use this pattern to build any other augmented chord. We’ll build a major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale. Then we’ll raise the fifth note 1/2 step.

Another way to label augmented chords is with the “+” symbol. So an augmented chord could be written as either F♯aug, or F♯+.

Other Chord Types

Some of the other chord types we can learn are:

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 play an F sharp augmented chord on the piano, and you can use this knowledge to build any other augmented chord.

Augmented chords aren’t as common as major and minor chords, but it’s useful to know how to build them when you need them.

I hope you enjoy using piano chords to learn the piano and to play creatively! Chords help us see the piano in terms of patterns, which opens up lots of possibilities!