Augmented Chord

Augmented Chord

The augmented (aug) chord is a major triad chord but with the 6th note flattened.

Let’s use the C augmented chord to show this:

C major

C augmented

Augmented chords have a symmetrical interval pattern (see the “C augmented” diagram above).

This means that each augmented chord actually produces 2 other augmented chords with exactly the same notes.

You will see from the example Guitar and Keyboard diagrams below that:

C aug is the same as E aug is the same as Ab aug.

Augmented Chord Formula:

The augmented chord formula is 1-3-b6 (i.e. the Root, 3rd and b6th).

You can use MusicWheels™ to discover all the other augmented chords and their notes.

Guitar Diagrams

Augmented Chords - CAGED - Across the Fretboard

The diagrams below show the generic CAGED shapes for augmented chords.

Red shape = root inversion; Yellow shape = 1st inversion; Grey shape = 2nd inversion.

The red note is the root note of the chord, for example:

– if you wish to play the A aug chord then the red root note will be the note of A

– if you wish to play the D aug chord then the red root note will be the note of D and so on.

Keyboard Diagrams