C sharp Augmented Chord (C♯aug)

1Composition: what it contains

C♯ – E♯ – G𝄪

Symbol

C♯aug

Also written

C♯aug, C♯+, C♯(♯5)

Formula

1 3 ♯5

Same sound as

D♭aug

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

On the ukulele

On 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 · C♯aug/E♯ · E♯ – G𝄪 – C♯ Play
• Inversion 2 · C♯aug/G𝄪 · G𝄪 – C♯ – E♯ Play

Scales to play over C♯aug

• D flat Whole Tone Scale
• C sharp Phrygian Dominant Scale
• C sharp Altered Scale
• C sharp Double Harmonic Major Scale

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

Caug Daug E♭aug Eaug Faug F♯aug Gaug A♭aug Aaug B♭aug Baug

Other chords on C♯

C♯ C♯m C♯dim C♯sus2 C♯sus4 C♯5 C♯6 C♯m6 C♯7 C♯maj7 C♯m7 C♯m7♭5 C♯dim7 C♯m(maj7) C♯7sus4 C♯add9 C♯m(add9) C♯6/9 C♯9 C♯maj9 C♯m9 C♯11 C♯m11 C♯13 C♯7♭9 C♯7♯9 C♯7♯5 C♯7♭5