Faug Piano Chord

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

1F3A5C♯C4C5

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

How to play Faug on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the F above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): F
  3. Middle finger (3): A
  4. Little finger (5): C♯
  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 F on its own as a bass note.

Play F, then F augmented, then B flat. The C rising through C sharp to D is the movement the chord is there to carry.

Inversions of Faug

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

First inversionA C♯ F
Faug piano chord diagram, first inversion, A C♯ F
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 inversionC♯ F A
Faug piano chord diagram, second inversion, C♯ F A
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 C
That is plain F major. F augmented needs C sharp, the black key just above.
The chord will not resolve
It is a passing chord. Follow it with B flat major, or drop the C sharp back to C.
The little finger cannot reach
The black key sits further into the keyboard. Bring the whole hand forward rather than stretching one finger.

What makes it an Faug

F · A · C♯ 1 3 ♯5

F augmented is F, A and C sharp: the root, the third and the sharp fifth. Two major thirds stacked, which makes the shape symmetrical.

It belongs to no key on its own. In practice it sits between F and B flat, or under a rising melody line, and moves on immediately.

Faug vs F

The top note. F major has C; F augmented raises it to C sharp.

That one key turns a plain, final chord into one that is clearly on its way somewhere.

Questions about Faug

Which notes are in Faug on piano?

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

What is the difference between Faug and F major?

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

Why do Faug, Aaug and C#aug 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 Faug, Aaug and C#aug are one shape with three names.

Where is Faug used?

Almost always as a passing chord. It appears between F major and B flat 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 F chords