Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Chord
C Augmented Chord (Caug)
Suspenseful, dreamy and unresolved. Two stacked major thirds create a raised fifth that pushes upward.
- Caug
- 3 notes
- x32110
1Composition: what it contains
C – E – G♯
- Symbol
- Caug
- Also written
- Caug, C+, C(♯5)
- Formula
- 1 3 ♯5
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison | 0 |
| 3 | E | major third | 4 |
| ♯5 | G♯ | augmented fifth | 8 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
On the guitar
x32110open position
x3655xfret 3
87655xfret 5
x-x-10-9-9-8fret 8
x-x-10-13-13-12fret 10On the ukulele
1003open position
5443fret 3
5887fret 5On the piano
On the staff
On bass and as an arpeggio
3Indications: what it is used for
Appears as III+ in harmonic minor and as a chromatic passing chord: the raised fifth moving between the fifth and sixth (I–I+–I6–I7 or I–I+–IV) creates the classic line cliché. It works as a dominant substitute (V+ resolving to I), in ballads, jazz standards, film music for mystery or dreams, and in some pop and rock intros. Because it divides the octave into three equal parts, there are only four different augmented triads, and any note can be heard as the root.
4Dosage: how to practise it
On guitar, learn the compact four-string shape and move it up by four frets: the inversion is the same chord. On piano, play it in all inversions and notice that every inversion looks alike. Practise I–I+–vi or I–I+–IV at 60–80 BPM to hear the rising chromatic line. Arpeggiate it as two major thirds on bass. Combine it with whole-tone scale practice for ten minutes, since the augmented triad belongs to that scale.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Do not confuse '+' with 'add': '+' means a raised fifth, not an added note. The raised fifth is spelled as ♯5, not as ♭6, which would describe a different chord. It is not the same as a dominant seventh with a raised fifth (7♯5 or aug7), which adds the flat seventh. On guitar, open-string shapes may accidentally include a perfect fifth, which destroys the augmented sound.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Inversions
- Inversion 1 · Caug/E · E – G♯ – C
- Inversion 2 · Caug/G♯ · G♯ – C – E
Scales to play over Caug
7Other presentations available
The same chord from every note
C♯aug Daug E♭aug Eaug Faug F♯aug Gaug A♭aug Aaug B♭aug Baug
Other chords on C
C Cm Cdim Csus2 Csus4 C5 C6 Cm6 C7 Cmaj7 Cm7 Cm7♭5 Cdim7 Cm(maj7) C7sus4 Cadd9 Cm(add9) C6/9 C9 Cmaj9 Cm9 C11 Cm11 C13 C7♭9 C7♯9 C7♯5 C7♭5
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.