Music Theory 099 - Sample Lesson

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Learning Augmented Chords

Think back to the major chord and how it was formed. The first, third, and fifth notes of the major scale make a major chord (C, E, G). If the major third is lowered one-half step the chord becomes a minor chord (C, Eb, G).

If the major chord has both the third and fifth lowered one-half step (C, Eb, Gb), the chord becomes a diminished chord.

If the major chord keeps the major third and raises the Perfect fifth one-half step to an augmented fifth interval, the chord becomes an augmented chord. The major chord (C, E, G) becomes (C, E, G#) an augmented chord.

Here is what a augmented chord sounds like.

Augmented Chords

Listen to the augmented chords below. They are harsh and "weary" sounding. One could believe that everything is "uneasy and stressful".

	augmented chord #1
	augmented chord # 2
	augmented chord # 3
	augmented chord # 4

Listen to these sequences of three augmented chords. There is still almost an "I'm mad" type of sound.


Sequence # 1	Sequence # 2	Sequence # 3