Augmented Guitar Chords
aug or +Augmented Triads are 3 note chords consisting of 2 major 3rds above the root or tonic, therefore having a root, a major third, and an augmented 5th (raised 5th)... 1 - 3 - #5.
Remember that a major third is equal to 4 semitones
We can illustrate this using a Chromatic Scale (semitones only) which is made up of 12 notes each divided equally by 1 semitone - easier to understand in this example. We will use sharps between each natural note starting with C as we are looking at the Caug chord.
- a major third above C is E
- a major third above E is G#
- C - E - G# (Caug)
Symmetry & Similarity:
Music scales are divided up into 3 Major 3rds. Following from the example above:
- Our first major third is C → E.
- Our second major 3rd is E → G#
- Our third major 3rd is G# → C (back to the root or tonic).
Because of the symmetry of augmented chords in a scale, different augmented chords have the same notes.
- C aug = C - E - G#
- E aug = E - G# - C
- G# aug = G# - C - E
- All 3 chords share the same notes.
You could say that E aug is the first inversion of C aug and G# aug is the second inversion of C aug. The same applies to E aug and G# aug.
This means that in a 12 note scale, there are only really 4 different augmented chords in terms of notes played.
Because of this, there are numerous positions on the fretboard that you can play augmented chords, as you will see on the charts below.
Formula
- An augmented triad consists of a root, a major third, and an augmented 5th
- The chord formula is 1 - 3 - #5
Another example for good measure!
- G augmented... G aug or G+
- Aug (+) chords consist of 2 major thirds above the root note
- Remember that a major third is equal to 4 half steps or 4 semitones.
- If we move a major third upwards from G, we get B...
(G - G# - A - A# - B). - If we move another major 3rd upwards from B, we get D#...
(B - C - C# - D - D#). - 'G' chords, are based on the scale of G major which consists of 1 sharp - F#.
- The G major scale reads as follows: G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
- Apply the formula 1 - 3 - #5 to the scale
- G aug = G - B - D#
Augmented Chord Table (aug or +)
| Aug(+) | A | B♭ | B | C | C# | D | E♭ | E | F | F# | G | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | A | B♭ | B | C | C# | D | E♭ | E | F | F# | G | A♭ |
| Major 3rd | C# | D | D# | E | E#(F) | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C |
| Aug 5th | E#(F) | F# | Fx(G) | G# | Gx(A) | A# | B | B#(C) | C# | Cx(D) | D# | E |
Interesting to note:
Please note that all chord charts indicate different shapes in different fret positions rather than set fret positions. Generally, there are 3 different augmented shapes and each one can be played in 3 different positions.
If you look closely at these charts, you will notice that each of the 3 charts are identical in terms of notes played and fret positions. Consider the following:
| Augmented Chords | Notes |
|---|---|
| A aug = C# aug = F aug | A - C# - F |
| B♭ aug = D aug = F# aug | B♭ - D - F# |
| B aug = E♭ aug = G aug | B - E♭ - G |
| C aug = E aug = A♭ aug | C - E - A♭ |
Augmented Chords - RH / LH
Chord Chart Legend
To read the charts below, the arrow ↑ represents which fret the finger above it plays. For example:
- A+ first shape: Place your 3rd finger on either the 4th, 8th or 12th fret and work backwards with your 2nd and 1st finger.
- A+ second shape: Place your 4th finger on the 5th, 9th or 13th fret and work backwards with your other fingers.
- A+ third shape: Place your first finger on frets 1, 5, or 9 and proceed as illustrated with your other fingers.
Songs to try featuring augmented chords:
- Alone Again Narurally by Gilbert O'Sullivan
- Climb Every Mountain from The Sound Of Music
- I'm Not Gonna Miss You by Glen Campbell
- Marvin Gaye by Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor
- Life On Mars by David Bowie
- Georgia On My Mind by Willie Nelson
- Oh Darling by The Beatles
- Over The Rainbow by Ella Fitzgerald
- What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
