Augmented triads are often used in jazz and other contemporary music genres to create a sense of tension or excitement. They can also be used to add a sense of color or brightness to a chord progression.
To form an augmented triad, start with a major triad. Then, raise the fifth note of the triad by a half step. For example, to form an augmented C triad, start with the notes C, E, and G. Then, raise the fifth note, G, by a half step to G#. The resulting chord is the C augmented triad.