Chord Information
Learn how to play Daug on piano
Notes in Chord
Intervals
Inversion
Notes (bottom to top): D4 - F#4 - A#4
Right Hand Fingering
3=middle, 4=ring, 5=pinky
Interactive Piano
Click the highlighted keys to play the Daug chord
About the Daug Chord
The D augmented chord offers a distinctive floating quality built from the warm D root. Comprising D-F#-A#, this chord stretches D major's already bright quality further, creating floating tension that seeks resolution. The raised fifth (A#) adds a distinctive color that's both familiar and strange.
D augmented is symmetrically related to F# augmented and A# augmented—all three contain the same pitches in different arrangements. This makes D+ useful for connecting D, F#, and A#/Bb key areas. The chord seems to point in multiple directions at once.
On piano, D+ presents a comfortable shape: D on white, F# on black, A# on black. This two-black-key pattern becomes familiar quickly and teaches the augmented hand position that recurs throughout the keyboard.
Music Theory & Usage
D augmented frequently appears as an altered dominant in G major (D+ instead of D or D7), creating chromatic movement to G. It also functions in whole-tone passages and chromatic sequences. The chord's warmth (from the D root) makes it less jarring than some augmented chords.
Jazz musicians use D+ in altered dominant voicings and quartal harmony. Classical composers employed it for moments of heightened expression. Pop music occasionally features it for dreamy, floating transitions.
Famous Songs Using Daug
Hear how professional musicians use the Daug chord in these well-known songs:
“For No One”
by The Beatles
Uses chromatic harmony including augmented chord movement
“Dear Prudence”
by The Beatles
The hypnotic progression includes augmented harmony
“Spring Song”
by Felix Mendelssohn
Romantic piano piece features chromatic augmented harmony
“The Way You Look Tonight”
by Jerome Kern
Jazz standard with sophisticated chromatic movement
How to Play Daug on Piano
- Place your thumb on D.
- Place your middle finger on F#.
- Place your pinky finger on A#.
- Press all keys simultaneously to hear the Daug chord.
Recommended fingering: 1-3-5 (right hand)
Daug Chord Inversions
The Daug chord can be played in different inversions:
Root Position
D - F# - A# (bass note: D)
First Inversion
F# - A# - D (bass note: F#)
Second Inversion
A# - D - F# (bass note: A#)
Common Chord Progressions Using Daug
I-IV-V Progression
Common chord progression
I-V-vi-IV Progression
Common chord progression
Practice Tips for Daug
- Start slowly and focus on pressing all keys simultaneously for a clean sound.
- Practice transitioning between Daug 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 Daug as part of simple progressions to understand its harmonic function.
Frequently Asked Questions about Daug
How does D augmented differ from D major?
D major (D-F#-A) has a perfect fifth; D+ (D-F#-A#) has an augmented fifth. The A# creates the floating, unresolved quality. D major sounds complete and stable; D+ sounds like it needs to move somewhere.
What is the fingering for D augmented?
For right hand, use 1-3-5 (thumb on D, middle on F#, pinky on A#). For left hand, use 5-3-1. Both black keys fall naturally under the middle and pinky fingers, making this a comfortable shape.
What chords does D augmented resolve to?
D+ commonly resolves to G major (A# moves to B, giving a V+ to I resolution), to D major (A# moves down to A), or to Bm (A# moves to B). The raised fifth typically moves by half step.
Is D augmented the same as F# augmented?
Yes, D+ (D-F#-A#), F#+ (F#-A#-C##/D), and A#+ (A#-C##-E##) all contain the same pitches. They're enharmonically equivalent. Which name you use depends on the musical context and which note functions as the root.