Chord Information
Learn how to play A#aug on piano
Notes in Chord
Intervals
Inversion
Notes (bottom to top): A#4 - D5 - Gb5
Right Hand Fingering
3=middle, 4=ring, 5=pinky
Interactive Piano
Click the highlighted keys to play the A#aug chord
About the A#aug Chord
The A# augmented chord, universally written as Bb augmented, delivers a warm, floating quality that has made it effective for romantic and dreamy passages. Built from A#-C##-E## (or Bb-D-F#), this chord uses the Bb spelling exclusively in practice because A# augmented would require triple complexity.
Bb augmented connects smoothly to D augmented and F# augmented through its symmetric structure. The Bb-D-F# spelling is clear and logical, placing the chord in accessible harmonic territory. Its warm quality from the Bb root makes it particularly suitable for romantic contexts.
On piano, Bb+ spans Bb (black), D (white), and F# (black). This pattern becomes comfortable with practice and teaches the augmented chord's characteristic sound from a flat-key perspective.
Music Theory & Usage
Bb augmented often functions as an altered dominant in Eb major or as a chromatic passing chord. Moving from Bb to Bb+ to Eb creates voice leading where F# rises to G. It also appears in whole-tone contexts and chromatic sequences.
Jazz musicians use Bb+ in flat-key altered dominant voicings. Classical composers employed it for impressionistic effects. Its position at the boundary of flat keys makes it useful for modulating toward sharp-key areas.
Famous Songs Using A#aug
Hear how professional musicians use the A#aug chord in these well-known songs:
“Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”
by Otis Redding
Uses augmented chord in the famous bridge section
“I'm Beginning to See the Light”
by Duke Ellington
Jazz standard with chromatic augmented movement
“Gymnopédies”
by Erik Satie
Minimalist piano pieces with floating, augmented harmonies
“Rainy Days and Mondays”
by Carpenters
Uses sophisticated chromatic harmony throughout
How to Play A#aug on Piano
- Place your thumb on A#.
- Place your middle finger on D.
- Place your pinky finger on Gb.
- Press all keys simultaneously to hear the A#aug chord.
Recommended fingering: 1-3-5 (right hand)
A#aug Chord Inversions
The A#aug chord can be played in different inversions:
Root Position
A# - D - Gb (bass note: A#)
First Inversion
D - Gb - A# (bass note: D)
Second Inversion
Gb - A# - D (bass note: Gb)
Common Chord Progressions Using A#aug
I-IV-V Progression
Common chord progression
I-V-vi-IV Progression
Common chord progression
Practice Tips for A#aug
- Start slowly and focus on pressing all keys simultaneously for a clean sound.
- Practice transitioning between A#aug and other common chords to build muscle memory.
- This is a fundamental chord - master it in all inversions before moving to complex chords.
- Try playing A#aug as part of simple progressions to understand its harmonic function.
Frequently Asked Questions about A#aug
Why is it always Bb augmented instead of A# augmented?
A# augmented would require C## and E##—extremely impractical spellings. Bb-D-F# is clear, readable, and connects logically to common keys. There is no practical context where A# augmented spelling makes sense.
What is the fingering for Bb augmented?
For Bb-D-F#: right hand 2-3-5 or 1-2-4, with index or thumb on Bb, middle on D, pinky on F#. For left hand, 5-3-1 works well. The black-white-black pattern becomes natural with practice.
What keys does Bb augmented connect?
Bb+ (Bb-D-F#) connects Bb, D, and F# equally well. This makes it useful for modulating between flat keys (Bb, Eb) and sharp keys (D, G). The chord bridges these distant harmonic areas smoothly.
How do I use Bb augmented effectively?
Try Bb to Bb+ to Eb (F# moves to G), or Bb to Bb+ to Gm (F# moves to G while Bb and D move to G and Bb). One measure of augmented chord before resolution creates good effect without overdoing the floating quality.