Augmented chords are an excellent way to change normal chords. Many bands like The Beatles used this technique very often. You may have seen augmented chords with a “+” symbol in several songs.
Therefore, in this article I will show exactly what an augmented chord is and how to use them.
What is an augmented chord?
An augmented chord is a chord with the fifth note of the triad augmented by half a step. That is, with the fifth note held. Augmented chord notation is usually represented with a “+” after the chord in the American cipher. Other times it is represented with an “aug”. For example, the C major chord is made up of the notes C, E and G; and the augmented chord (C+) is made up of C, E and G#.
Chord CMajorCEGAaugmentedCEG#
Augmented chord sound
The augmented chords sound as if to generate tension and suspense. They are often used when finishing a stanza to generate some tension, and then immediately begin the other stanza. As a kind of link or bridge between both stanzas. These chords add a different color to the major chords, generating an adventurous touch. So they are very fun to use on many occasions.
In current music, this type of chord is no longer used much, but was used more previously by bands like The Beatles in Oh Darling!, or Foo Fighters.
Augmented variations
You can often find Caug chords on the internet but with numbers. This means that more notes are added.
VariationChord6ta7ma9naNotationCaugCaug6Caug7Caug9CompositionTriadTriad+6Triad+7Triad+9
When we talk about an augmented chord, it is written Caug. Basically, when you add numbers, you add more notes. If you add the sixth to Caug’s triad, it will become Caug6, if you add the seventh, it will become Caug7, and so on.
This is usually very common in American encryption.
Songs with augmented chords
Oh Darling! – The Beatles
One of the best-known songs with augmented chords is Oh Darling!. In this song when it starts with “Oh” it uses an Eaug chord (E+). Also at the end of the chorus when he says “down and died”, he uses the augmented E chord.
E+ A E Oh darling, please believe me
The Beatles used to use this chord very often in their songs, so you will see it in many of them.
Warmth Of The Sun – The Beach Boys
In this Beach Boys song, the G+ chord is heard several times at the end of their phrases.
Eb Cm Dm7 G G+ That grows into day Generates a nice expectation at the end of the sentences to link to the next verse.
Conclusion on augmented chords
Augmented chords are a great way to build tension and anticipation for the end of verses, choruses, or bridges. Today’s songs no longer use this type of chords as much, but in the 60s and 80s it was very common. Of course, today thousands of musicians who love bands from those years love these chords. Personally, I often love to use these chords in many performances with friends. And you, what do you think of augmented chords?
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