C augmented chord on guitar (Caug)

Caug is C, E and G♯. The usual shape is x-3-2-1-1-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-3-2-1-1-0 · open · medium

Notes: C · E · G♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · ♯5
First shape: x-3-2-1-1-0

How to play Caug on guitar

Shape 1, x-3-2-1-1-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 1st fret (G♯).
Middle finger: B string, 1st fret (C).
Ring finger: D string, 2nd fret (E).
Pinky: A string, 3rd fret (C).
Let the open high E string ring (E).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play Caug

x-3-2-1-1-x: movable shape, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-10-9-9-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.
8-7-6-5-5-x: partial barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.

Caug chord changes

The chords Caug usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

F (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): Caug (x-3-2-1-1-0) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C carries over from one chord to the other. F on guitar
G (V in C major): Caug (x-3-2-1-1-0) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the low E string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. G on guitar
Am (vi in C major): Caug (x-3-2-1-1-0) to Am (x-0-2-2-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: C and E. Am on guitar

Caug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. Caug is a stepping stone: it often moves on to the IV chord, with the raised fifth rising one more half step. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Practice Caug in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-3-2-1-1-0 from the lowest string: C, E, G♯, C, E. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Finish by moving between x-3-2-1-1-0 and x-3-2-1-1-x to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Caug

Caug on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: Caug on piano and Caug on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Close to Caug

Other augmented chords

Caug on guitar: questions

What notes are in Caug on guitar?

C, E and G♯. In the x-3-2-1-1-0 shape the strings play C (A string), E (D string), G♯ (G string), C (B string) and E (high E string, open), so C and E are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Caug on guitar?

The friendliest Caug shape is x-3-2-1-1-0. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is Caug a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-3-2-1-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Caug start on?

In the x-3-2-1-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 3rd fret, which is C, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Caug. Updated September 2026.