Songs that use Augmented Chords

Augmented chords are certainly less common than your typical major, minor and seventh chords, but that doesn't mean they aren't useful! Despite their apparent dissonance when heard in isolation, when used tastefully, augmented chords can create ear-catching, highly cohesive chord progressions.

(This video was initially uploaded on 7th May 2021 but was demonetised/partially blocked due to copyright issues.)

SOURCES:

And, an extra special thanks goes to Vidad Flowers, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

[quinnknaap]

I just love how the beatles can be used as an example for pretty much everything

[thefourthwall]

C, C+, C6, C7 is one of my favorite chord progressions. It has a really Beatlesque feel to it

[seanmccloskey]

You are an unbelievably great teacher. I have been watching lots of music theory videos and have lots of favorite creators, but you are the best by far. The way you use examples and then change songs to show how they would sound using different chords or modes is super helpful.

[TenThumbsProductions]

I love to use the augmented V instead of a dominant V to turnaround blues as well as old standards. Or augmented I on the way to a dominant V for an intro

[ram]

Your piece with only augmented cords was real unnerving. Feels like a piece in a movie or game where they're exploring a dark cave and the suspense is just rising and just won't let up. Guess it partially explains why others like it are so rare.

[virginia]

It wasn't brought up, but an augmented chord is a good intro to a key change going a whole step up. Willy Nelson uses this sometimes.

[EixtremeDrummer]

"Life on Mars" is THE AUGMENTED SONG, a masterpiece.

[frankjuggaloheathen]

The second movement of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" comes to mind. There is a moment during the English horn solo when the accompaniment rises to an augmented chord that just melts the heart

[victorhugotoledocofre]

I'm a simple musician. I see "augmented chord" and think of "Oh! Darling" immediately

[dtpugliese]

David’s augmented only song really illustrates his point that Augmented chords are used to create tension. All augmented chords are nothing but tension and create an eerie, uneasy affect like the score to a horror film where death could be around any corner.

[benk.]

"Goodbye Stranger" by Supertramp would've been another great example

[psuengineer]

ELO and Supertramp always come to mind for augmented chords. It is one of many reasons why the 70s music is the beginning of such rich and emotional music.

[loganwilliams]

The beginning of ‘Nobody Home’ by Pink Floyd is my favorite example of an augmented chord. That Am to Ab+ is the saddest thing you’ll ever hear.

[GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

God Only Knows by The Beach Boys uses the augmented chord as well.

[sotsch]

"Handle With Care" by The Traveling Wilburys also features a G+ in the Bridge, leading to a C (it's in the key of G)

[johnbachner]

As someone who knew a lot of scales but no idea how to use them other than just noodling up and down, these lessons have helped so much with composing actual chord movement. I have a long way to go but the melodic aspect of writing is soooo much better now thank you so much.

[urbangorilla]

Another good example is John Lennon's "Just Like Starting Over". It uses the A aug throughout the song, Alternating with A in the intro and again in the verse.

[craigmurray]

The Dave Clark Five's hit "Because" uses the augmented G chord often -- especially in its upward climb from G to G+ to G6 to G7 --- great voice leading with Mike Smith's vocal of the melody. Unfortunately, the DC5 are soon to be forgotten, but for several years were the Beatles biggest rivals, especially in the US, and not the Stones.

[HofTheStage]

5:38 always reminds me of that Only Fools and Horses episode when that guy sings it "Cwying"

[caronmichel]

Dear David: Love your videos as I learn a lot from them. I’m a seasoned musician, with a day job; about the augmented chord you should mention is that this “triad” is a series of major thirds from it’s root. As a guitar teacher, I’m adamant on teaching intervals and once a student has the basis of intervals figured out, they can create any triad when they know the root; therefore a C+ is a root, Maj 3rd plus a Maj 3rd; with a root of C, a C, E and G# or in D, a D, F# and A# and so on.