Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
Instrumentality

A mad musical adventure

Instrumentality
  • Labwerks
  • Instrumming
  • Sparks
  • Alchemy
  • Harmony
  • Theory

Augmented chords: simply irresistible

  • April 12, 2021
  • admin
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Have a listen …

Did you feel an irresistible urge to resolve the tension and move to the ‘home’ chord? You can satisfy that urge here …

The most usual way to build the tension is with a seventh chord. In the key of D, that would be A7 …

But an augmented A chord is even more irresistible. Let’s hear it again …

Technically, if you’re interested, an augmented chord is a triad consisting of the tonic, major third and sharpened fifth. It is the latter that ‘augments’ a normal major triad and gives the chord its name.

The chord of D augmented (often shown as D+) contains the notes D F# and A#. Interestingly, all three notes in this triad are four semitones apart.

A classic example of the augmented chord creating suspense is the opening chord of The Beatles’ Oh Darling. The chord reappears at the end of the bridge.

The augmented chord also works well as the second step in a build from the root chord. A great example is John Lennon’s Isolation, which ascends from D to D+ to D6 to D7 before resolving to a G/G7 and then returning to D …

I think it’s the augmented chord that gives this song its bleak, haunting quality.

I used a similar build in the following track that I produced with Quelque Chose and which appears on the album The Blue. The build goes up from A to A+, A6 and A7 before resolving to Dmaj7, Dm7 A, E6, and E.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
admin

Previous Article
  • Harmony
  • Theory

When diminishing is a good thing

  • March 26, 2021
  • admin
View Post
Next Article
  • Progressions
  • Theory

Jazz progressions don’t need jazz

  • April 19, 2021
  • admin
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Comment
  • Melody

Can cellos play the blues?

  • admin
  • April 11, 2023
View Post
  • Progressions

Are two chords really enough?

  • admin
  • March 16, 2022
View Post
  • Harmony

Walking with Pythagoras

  • admin
  • January 11, 2022
View Post
  • Progressions

The Chorale is OK by me

  • admin
  • November 5, 2021
View Post
  • Ensembles
  • Melody
  • Theory

Amanecer – a Phrygian dawn

  • admin
  • August 30, 2021
View Post
  • Rhythm
  • Sparks

Playing with time

  • admin
  • July 19, 2021
View Post
  • Harmony
  • Magic
  • Theory

In search of the lost chord

  • admin
  • July 5, 2021
View Post
  • Magic
  • Melody
  • Theory

Suspended delights

  • admin
  • June 28, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instrumentality
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
A mad musical adventure

Input your search keywords and press Enter.