A augmented chord (Aaug)
Aaug is A, C♯ and E♯: 1–3–♯5 built on A. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-0-3-2-2-1 · open · medium
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- x-0-3-2-2-1
Aaug on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · A–C♯–E♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
Aaug on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-1-1-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- 2-1-1-0
Where Aaug usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what Aaug does in songs.
- Aaug → D (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV)
Guitar: Aaug (x-0-3-2-2-1) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. A carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Aaug to D: play D in 2nd inversion (A–D–F♯) and A stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves up to D and E♯ up to F♯. D - Aaug → E (V in A major)
Guitar: Aaug (x-0-3-2-2-1) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): the index finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once.
Piano: Aaug to E: play E in 1st inversion (G♯–B–E), while A moves down to G♯, C♯ down to B and E♯ down to E. E - Aaug → F♯m (vi in A major)
Guitar: Aaug (x-0-3-2-2-1) to F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 4th fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share A and C♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Aaug to F♯m: play F♯m in 1st inversion (A–C♯–F♯) and A and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while E♯ moves up to F♯. F♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 5, Eaug shape.
How Aaug is built
Aaug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. It sounds suspended and dreamlike. Because the major thirds split the octave evenly, Aaug shares its three notes with D♭aug and Faug.
Start on A, count 4 half steps up to C♯ then 4 half steps up to E♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | root | 0 | |
| C♯ | major third | 4 | |
| E♯ | augmented fifth | 8 |
Keys and progressions with Aaug
Aaug isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
Chords close to Aaug
- Aaug and A differ by one note: E♯ in Aaug, E in A. They share A and C♯. A
Chords that share most of their notes with Aaug: D♭aug, Faug, C♯, Dm, F, F♯m.
Every A chord
A augmented chord: questions
What notes are in the A augmented chord?
A, C♯ and E♯. Aaug is built 1–3–♯5 from A: C♯ is the major third and E♯ is the augmented fifth.
How do you play Aaug on guitar?
The usual shape is x-0-3-2-2-1 (open). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play Aaug on piano?
Play A, C♯ and E♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. A sits between the last two black keys of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Aaug on ukulele?
2-1-1-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Aaug in?
Aaug isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
What's the difference between Aaug and A?
Aaug and A differ by one note: E♯ in Aaug, E in A. They share A and C♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from A, C♯ and E♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.