E augmented chord (Eaug)
Eaug is E, G♯ and B♯: 1–3–♯5 built on E. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
0-3-2-1-1-0 · open · medium
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- 0-3-2-1-1-0
Eaug on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G♯–B♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
Eaug on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-0-0-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- 1-0-0-3
Where Eaug usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what Eaug does in songs.
- Eaug → A (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV)
Guitar: Eaug (0-3-2-1-1-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the D string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share E, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Eaug to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E stays under the same finger, while G♯ moves up to A and B♯ up to C♯. A - Eaug → B (V in E major)
Guitar: Eaug (0-3-2-1-1-0) to B (x-2-4-4-4-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 4th fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go.
Piano: Eaug to B: play B in 1st inversion (D♯–F♯–B), while E moves down to D♯, G♯ down to F♯ and B♯ down to B. B - Eaug → C♯m (vi in E major)
Guitar: Eaug (0-3-2-1-1-0) to C♯m (x-4-6-6-5-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 5th fret, the ring finger goes to the D string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. E and G♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Eaug to C♯m: play C♯m in 1st inversion (E–G♯–C♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while B♯ moves up to C♯. C♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 4, Caug shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 4, Caug shape.
How Eaug is built
Eaug 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, Eaug shares its three notes with A♭aug and Caug.
Count keys (black and white) from E: 4 half steps up to G♯ then 4 half steps up to B♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G♯ | major third | 4 | |
| B♯ | augmented fifth | 8 |
Keys and progressions with Eaug
Eaug isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
Chords close to Eaug
- Eaug and E differ by one note: B♯ in Eaug, B in E. They share E and G♯. E
Chords that share most of their notes with Eaug: Caug, A♭aug, C, C♯m, E, Fm.
Every E chord
E augmented chord: questions
What notes are in the E augmented chord?
E, G♯ and B♯. Eaug is built 1–3–♯5 from E: G♯ is the major third and B♯ is the augmented fifth.
How do you play Eaug on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-3-2-1-1-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Eaug on piano?
Play E, G♯ and B♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Eaug on ukulele?
1-0-0-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Eaug in?
Eaug 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 Eaug and E?
Eaug and E differ by one note: B♯ in Eaug, B in E. They share E and G♯.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.