F Augmented Chord
Faug stacks two major thirds, from F to A and from A to C sharp. The raised fifth keeps the chord from sounding like an ordinary major resting point.
- Notes: F-A-C sharp
- Symbol: Faug
- Vaug in Bb major
- Raised fifth
Faug
How to play an F augmented chord
Notes: F - A - C#Faug
Root position
F - A - C#1st inversion
A - C# - F2nd inversion
C# - F - A
Where does F augmented belong?
In Bb major, the raised fifth can sharpen the pull of a dominant chord.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- Pushing dominantV+
Raising the fifth to C sharp adds a note that climbs straight to the third of Bb.
BbFaugV+Bb - Rising lineI+
The fifth rises a half step at a time: a classic way to walk from F to Bb.
FFaugI+F6Bb
Progressions to try
- BbFaugBb
The raised fifth of Faug intensifies the dominant before the final tonic.
- FFaugF6Bb
The line moves from an ordinary major chord through Faug to a sixth chord before changing harmony.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with the open 10322x grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent. The x87669 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, the open shape 2110 is the easiest place to start. The 6558 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play F-A-C sharp. Move F up an octave to reach the first inversion, A-C sharp-F; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
F is the root, A the major third and C sharp the augmented fifth, eight semitones above the root.
- Root position: F-A-C sharp, with F lowest.
- First inversion: A-C sharp-F, written Faug/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: C sharp-F-A, written Faug/C# if C sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Faug differ from F?
Keep F and A, then lower the raised fifth C sharp to C. That makes F; only one note has changed. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See F for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Faug
F - A - C#F
F - A - C