F#aug chord on piano
F# augmented
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Notes
Understanding the F#aug chord
How it's built: The augmented chord is formed by raising the fifth of a major chord by half a step (root, major third, and augmented fifth). Because it is made of two stacked major thirds, it is perfectly symmetrical and repeats every four semitones.
How it sounds: It possesses a dreamy, mysterious tonal color suspended in mid-air. The augmented fifth prevents the chord from feeling grounded, letting it float with a strange brightness. It isn't exactly dissonant, nor is it consonant; it is something completely different and spatial.
Where to use it: It is a brilliant device for creating atmospheres of wonder, disorientation, or magic. It is often used as a passing color (e.g., moving from I to I+ and then to vi) or to harmonize a chromatically ascending melodic line. The Beatles used it masterfully in 'Oh! Darling', and it remains a staple in Claude Debussy's impressionism and modern jazz to stretch tension.