Augmented Chords Theory
One of the most unstable triads in music.
The sound of an augmented chord
An unstable, dissonant sound. Used in atonal music due to it's lack of a tonal centre. ("tonal centre" refers to where the music is rooted, or grounded. If you were playing chords C, F, and G7, then C would be the tonal centre).
The Augmented Chords Notated
Augmented chords are shown by the letter name of the chord, followed by a + symbol. So E augmented is E+. They can also be written "Eaug"
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E+ notated
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Theory - how to work out any augmented chord.
Augmented chords are formed from the root, the third, and the augmented fifth of any scale. Here's how to work one out if you're not familar with this musical terminology!:-
G+ chord
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In this example we're going to look at G+. Firstly, work out G major chord. This will give you the notes G - B - D. Next, take the top note of the chord (D) and raise it by one semitone - that's just one step up the keyboard. This will get you to D#. So G+ is G - B - D#. |
In a similar way to the diminished seventh chord, there a limited number of augmented chords. Beginning from C+ (which is C - E - G#), there is then C#+ (C# - F - Gx {A##}), D+ (D - F# - A#), and Eb# (Eb - G - B). Once we are at E (E - G# - B#{C}), we are playing the same notes again as the first chord, all be it in a different inversion. So there are really only four augmented chords possible.
TOP TIP:
Is there such a thing as a minor augmented chord?
Here's a chord seqeunce using the augmented fifth, this time in the minor. (In conventional musical theory, there's no such thing as a "minor augmented chord", as this is seen as a contradiction in terms. However, some musicians speculate that there is the need for this term). Indeed, in the James Bond Theme, the second chord is a Em+5.
Here's the chord sequence, if you want to have a go at it:-
Em, Em+5, Em6, Em+5
Em= E - G - B
Em+5= E - G - B#
Em6= E - G - C#
The term "Em+5" best describes what is happening here - the bass is staying on E, we are still in a minor mood, and the top note is moving up (on its way to C#, via the B#). Of course, this chord could be described as C/E, but notating it this way doesn't seem to capture the meaning or the context of the chord.
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