Augmented Chords
Augmented chords have a bright, unsettled sound that creates tension and naturally pulls your ear toward the next chord. The good news? They're incredibly easy to build.
How Do You Play an Augmented Chord?
Start with a normal major triad. Then raise the 5th (top note) by one half step.
Augmented Chord Theory
If you want to put on your theory hat — whatever that hat happens to look like — an augmented triad is made from two major 3rds stacked together.
C → E
Major 3rd (M3)
E → G♯
Major 3rd (M3)
You can also measure every note from the root:
C → E
Major 3rd (M3)
C → G♯
Augmented 5th (♯5)
When Do You Use Augmented Chords?
An augmented chord creates tension. Because of that, you'll often hear it used as a passing chord that leads smoothly into another chord.
Try this progression:
Listen closely to the note movement: G → G♯ → A.
That little chromatic movement is one of the reasons the augmented chord sounds so natural between C and F.
Augmented 7th Chords
To create an augmented 7th chord, start with the augmented triad and add a minor 7th above the root.
Measured from the root:
C → E
Major 3rd (M3)
C → G♯
Augmented 5th (♯5)
C → B♭
Minor 7th (♭7)
Complete Formula
1 – 3 – ♯5 – ♭7
Same Chord, Different Symbols
Depending on the chord chart, lead sheet, or music you're reading, augmented chords can be written several different ways.
C Augmented
C Augmented 7
All Augmented Triads
Use this chart as a quick reference. Remember the formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5.
| Chord | Root | Major 3rd | Augmented 5th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caug | C | E | G♯ |
| D♭aug | D♭ | F | A |
| Daug | D | F♯ | A♯ |
| E♭aug | E♭ | G | B |
| Eaug | E | G♯ | B♯ (C) |
| Faug | F | A | C♯ |
| G♭aug | G♭ | B♭ | D |
| Gaug | G | B | D♯ |
| A♭aug | A♭ | C | E |
| Aaug | A | C♯ | E♯ (F) |
| B♭aug | B♭ | D | F♯ |
| Baug | B | D♯ | F𝄪 (G) |
All Augmented 7th Chords
The augmented 7 chord uses the formula 1 – 3 – ♯5 – ♭7.
| Chord | Root | Major 3rd | Augmented 5th | Minor 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caug7 | C | E | G♯ | B♭ |
| D♭aug7 | D♭ | F | A | C♭ (B) |
| Daug7 | D | F♯ | A♯ | C |
| E♭aug7 | E♭ | G | B | D♭ |
| Eaug7 | E | G♯ | B♯ (C) | D |
| Faug7 | F | A | C♯ | E♭ |
| G♭aug7 | G♭ | B♭ | D | F♭ (E) |
| Gaug7 | G | B | D♯ | F |
| A♭aug7 | A♭ | C | E | G♭ |
| Aaug7 | A | C♯ | E♯ (F) | G |
| B♭aug7 | B♭ | D | F♯ | A♭ |
| Baug7 | B | D♯ | F𝄪 (G) | A |
The Big Idea
You don't need to overthink augmented chords. Start with a major chord, raise the 5th by one half step, and listen for the tension it creates. That tension is what makes the augmented chord such a useful passing and transition chord.