Author Topic: What are some uses for augmented chords?  (Read 79 times)

Offline steeveyxenon

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What are some uses for augmented chords?
« on: January 09, 2012, 07:43:59 pm »
I hate augmented chords, and it seems most other people do too, but they have to be in something!

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Offline guitarskills

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Re: What are some uses for augmented chords?
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2012, 09:26:57 pm »
Quote
The augmented triad by itself is best used as a substitute for a normal V chord in a key, which then leads very strongly back to I. In the key of C major, that would be a G+ to C progression (replacing the more plain G to C). In other words, the augmented triads works in much the same way as a dominant 7th chrod: it pulls back to another chord strongly in a V -> I progression.

So, you have to go out of scale to use it.

This song opens up with an augmented chord, by The Beatles. they are a lot like a diminished chord, very good at tension building.


EDIT: does the song when you were young by the killers start with a aug chord? It sounds a lot like the Beatles opening.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2012, 09:36:07 pm by guitarskills »

Offline Fran5

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Re: What are some uses for augmented chords?
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2012, 10:13:22 pm »
I've noticed that an Augmented chord fit well with the same chord (major) as resolution

Ej (try on guitar)

|---8-----------3--------|
|---8-----------3--------|
|---8-----------3--------|
|---9-----------4--------|
|--10-----------5--------|
|--10-----------5--------|


PS: When you were young Doesnt beguin with a aug chord, Its E -> F# -> G#m -> B -> E
« Last Edit: January 09, 2012, 10:17:08 pm by Fran5 »
:) I'm Fran5!

Offline Nuse

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Re: What are some uses for augmented chords?
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2012, 03:19:09 pm »
You can use them instead of V (or biii), to resolve to I/i. eg. V+7 -> I
You can play whole-tone over it.
They can be used as a cadence. Eg. Ger6-V7-i
They are also good for key changes.