Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

Playing the piano

Using augmented chords

Augmented chords work beautifully as transition chords

A

ugmented 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.

Augmented

chords

Add a bit of spice to your chord progressions with

an augmented chord

“At first an augmented chord may sound a

little odd, but used as a transition between two

chords they can become powerful tools”

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.

Audio file

Listen to the audio files

and follow along on your

own keyboard

Give it a try