Eaug arpeggio
E Augmented — the notes E, G#, B# played one at a time, bottom-up and back.
Musical context
How the arpeggio relates to the chord, scale, mode and key.
How to play the arpeggio
Theory
General info
- Full name
- E Augmented
- Root
- E
- Quality
- Augmented
- Type
- Augmented triad
- Note count
- 3
- Brief character
- Unstable sound with a sense of unresolved motion. Symmetric structure of major thirds creates a "suspended" sound without clear pull.
Unstable, expanding, "suspended". Ambiguity, tense anticipation of resolution.
Recognized by the characteristic "expanding" feel of the augmented fifth.
Notes & degrees
Two consecutive major thirds: 1-3-#5.
On the piano
An arpeggio is a broken chord: the same notes played one after another rather than together, bottom-up and back. On the piano they are usually split between the two hands — in an accompaniment, for instance, the left hand carries the bass while the right fills in the figuration.
Any chord can be played arpeggiato or turned into figuration — a broken bass, Alberti figures, a waltz accompaniment. Unlike the guitar, where an arpeggio is tied to the order the strings are plucked, there is no fixed fingering “shape” here — evenness and legato between the notes matter most.
Chord basis
Differs from major by the raised fifth (#5 instead of 5).
Function and tensions
Chromatic dominant, transition between major and minor.
Transitional — heard as incomplete motion.
Harmonic context
Degree III of harmonic minor, or a raised fifth degree acting as a chromatic dominant.
Harmonic minor, melodic minor, whole-tone scale.
Adds an unexpected "twist" to the melodic line.
Compatible scales & modes
All chord tones are contained in these scales — use them for improvisation.
This arpeggio on guitar 🎸
See how Eaug looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
Keys where this chord functions as a scale degree, on the circle of fifths.
How to play on piano
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.