Aaug Piano Chord

A augmented is the Aaug piano chord. It has three notes: A, C sharp and F. It is an A major chord with the fifth raised by one key onto the white key F.

1A3C♯5FC3C4

A at the bottom, then C♯ and F. Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black key is C♯.

How to play Aaug on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the A below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): A
  3. Middle finger (3): C♯
  4. Little finger (5): F
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just A on its own as a bass note.

The top note is written F rather than E sharp. F is the key you press, and it is what every chord chart prints.

Inversions of Aaug

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Aaug; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionC♯ F A
Aaug piano chord diagram, first inversion, C♯ F A
Lighter than root position and less final. A third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionF A C♯
Aaug piano chord diagram, second inversion, F A C♯
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

The top note is E
That is plain A major. A augmented needs F, the white key immediately above.
The middle finger slips
C sharp is a black key with white keys on either side. Sit the hand slightly further into the keyboard.
The chord sounds unfinished
It is. Follow it with D major, or drop the F back to E.

What makes it an Aaug

A · C♯ · F 1 3 ♯5

A augmented is A, C sharp and F: the root, the third and the sharp fifth. Written strictly the top note is E sharp, which is the key called F.

It leads from A to D, with the E climbing through F to F sharp. Two major thirds stacked, so it belongs to no key in particular.

Aaug vs A

The top note. A major has E; A augmented raises it to F.

Both chords have one black key in the middle, so the hand shape is the same and only the little finger moves.

Questions about Aaug

Which notes are in Aaug on piano?

A, C sharp and F. It is A major with the fifth raised by one key.

What is the difference between Aaug and A major?

The top note. A major has a normal fifth; Aaug raises it by one key, which makes the chord sound stretched and unsettled instead of finished.

Why do Aaug, C#aug and Faug contain the same keys?

An augmented chord is two major thirds stacked, and four half steps repeated three times comes back to where it started. That means the same three keys can be named from any of its notes, so Aaug, C#aug and Faug are one shape with three names.

Where is Aaug used?

Almost always as a passing chord. It appears between A major and D major, or under a melody note that is climbing, and it resolves as soon as the raised fifth moves on.

Chords to learn next

Other A chords