F#aug
F# Augmented
Octaves
Musical context
How the chord relates to the scale, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Full name
- F# Augmented
- Symbol
- F#aug
- Root
- F#
- Quality
- Augmented
Chord notes
1F#root
3A#major 3rd
#5Daug 5th
Functions & resolutions
- Stability / tension
- Marked tension — unstable, seeks resolution
- Unstable degrees
- #5D6D#resolves up to the 6th
- Main resolution
- Augmented F#aug has a raised 5th. As a dominant it resolves up a 4th — the raised 5th rising a semitone. Returning to the major of the same root, it instead falls back to a perfect 5th.
- Other resolutions
- An augmented chord can resolve to the minor chord of the same root: the raised 5th falls to a perfect 5th and the major 3rd lowers to a minor 3rd.F#augsourceNo resolution neededIn a whole-tone context, the augmented chord can be used as a color chord — without mandatory resolution.In jazz, aug often acts as a dominant with raised 5th, resolving up a 4th as a V7 substitute.Due to its symmetry (equal intervals), an augmented chord can resolve to chords a major 3rd apart.
Ebmharmonic minor
F#augdegree III
The raised 7th of harmonic minor makes the III triad augmented — F#aug arises within the key on its own.
F#augV+
Bresolution
As a dominant it resolves a fourth up: the raised fifth (D) rises a semitone into the tonic's third (Eb).
Features
- Character
- Augmented, symmetric and unstable
- Characteristic interval
- Augmented 5th (#5)
- Description
- The augmented fifth (#5) is raised a semitone above normal. The chord is symmetric — all three notes are equidistant by major thirds.
- Application
- Chromatic passing
- III in harmonic minor
- Unexpected colors
Voicing & structure
Root position
v1F#(F#4)Bass
v2A#(A#4) M3from F#
v3D(D5) M3from A#
Harmony
Compatible scales
All chord tones are contained in these scales — use them for improvisation.
This chord on guitar 🎸
See how F#aug looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
Highlighted major keys contain this chord among their diatonic harmonies.
Recommended for you
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.
Test yourself
(Press any key to start)