Augmented Chords

Augmented chords 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). Remember that a major third is equal to 4 semitones. We can illustrate this using the C Major Scale, i.e., (C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C)

a major third above C is E a major third above E is G#... C - E - G# (Caug)

A music scale is divided up into 3 Major 3rds. We will illustrate this using the C Major scale.

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 have the same notes.

You could say that E aug is the first inversion of C aug and G#aug is the second inversion of Caug. 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. If 1 augmented chord is the same as 3 others, 4 augmented chords are the same as 12 others!

Because of this, there are numerous positions on the fretboard that you can play augmented chords, as you will see below.

Formula for an Augmented Chord

An augmented chord consists of a root, a major third, and an augmented 5th
The chord formula for an augmented chord is 1 - 3 - #5
The first featured song for this session is What A Wonderful World recorded by Louis Armstrong.
The second featured song for this session is All My Loving ... a great Beatles classic recorded by Amy Winehouse. Take special note of the guitar work... The Beatles version is also available

Example: G augmented... G aug or G+

Aug (+) Chords consist of the 1st, 3rd, and #5th notes of a Major Scale
They 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#).
Remember that all chords are based on the major scale of that chord. For example, 'G' chords, are based on the scale of G major which consists of 1 sharp. The G major scale reads as follows: G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
An augmented chord consists of the 1st, 3rd, and #5th notes of the major scale, therefore the G aug chord reads as follows: G - B - D#

Augmented Chord Table (aug or +)

Aug(+)	A	A#	B♭	B	C	C#	D♭	D	D#	E♭	E	F	F#	G♭	G	G#	A♭
Root	A	A#	B♭	B	C	C#	D♭	D	D#	E♭	E	F	F#	G♭	G	G#	A♭
Major 3rd	C#	Cx(D)	D	D#	E	E#(F)	F	F#	Fx(G)	G	G#	A	A#	B♭	B	B#(C)	C
Aug 5th	E#(F)	Ex(F#)	F#	Fx(G)	G#	Gx(A)	A	A#	Ax(B)	B	B#(C)	C#	Cx(D)	D	D#	Dx(E)	E

To read the chart below, the arrow represents which fret the finger above it is to play. For example, A+ first shape, you place your 3rd finger on either the 4th, 8th or 12th fret and work backwards with your 2nd and 1st finger. In the second shape, you place your 4th finger on the 5th, 9th or 13th fret and work backwards with your other fingers. In the third shape, you place your first finger on frets 1, 5, or 9 and proceed as illustrated with your other fingers.

Chord Charts:

A aug - C aug

Free Download: Augmented chords - Part 1

C# aug / Db aug - E aug

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. 1 chord....9 positions.

Free Download: Aug (+) chords - Part 2

F aug - G# aug / Ab aug

Free Download: Aug (+) chords - Part 3

Featured Song - All My Loving (Amy Winehouse)

A great classic Beatles song performed by an amazing artist.

Free Download: All My Loving chords and lyrics - Amy Winehouse

We also have The Beatles version of the song on this site including chords and lyrics, song tips and more...

Helpful Pages:

Building Chords | Writing Chords | Guitar Notes | Guitar Strings

I hope you have enjoyed this session. As you learn more and more guitar chords, you will start to see patterns taking shape. Take note of these and whenever you can, try to remember your chord formulas. The more you play, the easier they are to remember.