Music Theory For Dummies
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You can use music theory to build augmented triads. Augmented triads are major triads that have had the fifth raised a half step, creating a slightly dissonant sound. An augmented triad is a stack of major thirds with four half steps between each interval.

You can build a C augmented triad (written as Caug) by counting out the half steps between intervals, like this:

Root position + 4 half steps + 4 half steps (8 half steps above root)

Here, you see C augmented on the keyboard.

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Here is C augmented on the staff.

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Using the method of starting with the major key signature first and then building the chord, the formula you want to remember for building augmented chords is

Augmented triad = 1 + 3 + sharp 5

So the first major scale degree and third major scale degree stay the same in the chord, but the fifth major scale degree is raised a half step.

It’s important to note here that sharp 5 doesn’t mean that the note will necessarily be a sharp. Instead, it means that the fifth note occurring in the scale degree is raised, or sharped, a half step.

Therefore, if someone asks you to write down an augmented F triad, you first write the key signature for F and then write your triad on the staff, using F as your root and raising the fifth position one half step.

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If you were to build an A flat augmented triad, you would go through the same process and come up with a triad that looks like the one below. Note that the perfect fifth of A flat major is an E flat. Given A flat’s key signature, you have to “natural” the fifth to get to that E natural.

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