Piano chord
A Augmented Chord
Aaug is an augmented chord built on A. It contains the notes A – C♯ – E♯.
Aaug
Also written: A+, A(♯5)
- A
- C♯
- E♯
Notes in Aaug
Count up from A using the intervals below. The formula shows each note relative to the A major scale.
| Notes | Intervals | Formula | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Root | 1 | 0 |
| C♯ | Major 3rd | 3 | 4 |
| E♯ | Augmented 5th | ♯5 | 8 |
How to play Aaug on piano
- Right hand: fingers 1–3–5 (thumb on A).
- Left hand: fingers 5–3–1 (little finger on the lowest note).
- Press the keys together, then try playing them one at a time as an arpeggio.
Aaug inversions
An inversion puts a different note of Aaug at the bottom. The notes stay the same, the colour and voice leading change.
Root position
AaugA – C♯ – E♯
1st inversion
Aaug/C♯C♯ – E♯ – A
2nd inversion
Aaug/E♯E♯ – A – C♯
About augmented chords
Raise the 5th by one semitone and the chord floats in limbo — neither resolved nor completely tense. Dreamlike and unsettling.
Sound: Mysterious & dreamlike
Songs that use it
- Oh! You Pretty Things · David BowieRock
- Michelle · The BeatlesRock
- The Wizard of Oz · Harold ArlenMusical
Keys that contain Aaug
Aaug is built only from notes of these keys. The Roman numeral shows its role in each key.
Hear Aaug with different sounds and compare it with other chords in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
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