Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Chord

E Augmented Chord (Eaug)

Suspenseful, dreamy and unresolved. Two stacked major thirds create a raised fifth that pushes upward.

Eaug
3 notes
032110

1Composition: what it contains

E – G♯ – B♯

Symbol: Eaug
Also written: Eaug, E+, E(♯5)
Formula: 1 3 ♯5

Degree	Note	Interval	Semitones
1	E	unison	0
3	G♯	major third	4
♯5	B♯	augmented fifth	8

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – guitar chord diagram 1 (032110) — `032110`open position

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – guitar chord diagram 2 (xx2554) — `xx2554`fret 2

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – guitar chord diagram 3 (x76558) — `x76558`fret 5

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – guitar chord diagram 4 (x-7-10-9-9-x) — `x-7-10-9-9-x`fret 7

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – guitar chord diagram 5 (x-x-14-13-13-12) — `x-x-14-13-13-12`fret 12

On the ukulele

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – ukulele chord diagram 1 (1003) — `1003`open position

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – ukulele chord diagram 2 (5443) — `5443`fret 3

E Augmented Chord (Eaug) – ukulele chord diagram 3 (5887) — `5887`fret 5

On the piano

Piano keyboard

On the staff

Treble clef

On bass and as an arpeggio

Chord tones on the bass neck

Bass pattern: root and fifth

Bass arpeggio

Chord tones on the guitar neck (degrees)

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 · Eaug/G♯ · G♯ – B♯ – E
Inversion 2 · Eaug/B♯ · B♯ – E – G♯

Scales to play over Eaug

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

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

Other chords on E

E Em Edim Esus2 Esus4 E5 E6 Em6 E7 Emaj7 Em7 Em7♭5 Edim7 Em(maj7) E7sus4 Eadd9 Em(add9) E6/9 E9 Emaj9 Em9 E11 Em11 E13 E7♭9 E7♯9 E7♯5 E7♭5

Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.