A♭ augmented chord on piano (A♭aug)
A♭aug is A♭, C and E. A♭ is the middle black key of the three. Hit Play and watch each key light as it sounds.
root position · A♭–C–E · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- A♭ · C · E
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
How to play A♭aug on piano
Start on A♭, count 4 half steps up to C then 4 half steps up to E. Those 3 keys are A♭aug.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 3 on C and 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on C and 1 on E.
- On the keyboard it's black, white and white keys, the same pattern as D♭aug and E♭aug, so your hand shape carries over.
A♭aug inversions
- root position: A♭–C–E. Right hand 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: C–E–A♭ (C in the bass). Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: E–A♭–C, with E at the bottom. Fingers 1-3-5.
Use the inversions to stay put: the next chord is often one inversion away from where your hand already is, as the changes below show.
Moving between A♭aug and its neighbours
The chords A♭aug usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- C♯ (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): A♭aug to C♯: play C♯ in 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–E♯) and G♯ stays under the same finger, while C moves up to C♯ and E up to E♯. C♯ on piano
- E♭ (V in A♭ major): A♭aug 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♭ on piano
- Fm (vi in A♭ major): A♭aug to Fm: play Fm in 1st inversion (A♭–C–F) and A♭ and C stay under the same fingers, while E moves up to F. Fm on piano
A♭aug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. A♭aug is a stepping stone: it often moves on to the IV chord, with the raised fifth rising one more half step. Play it solid and then broken to hear the difference.
Getting A♭aug under your fingers
Play A♭aug broken, one key at a time: A♭, C, E, C, A♭. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Then climb the inversions: A♭–C–E, then C–E–A♭, then E–A♭–C.
The keys of A♭aug
A♭aug is a augmented chord, 1–3–♯5 from A♭. Root position, from the bottom: how A♭aug is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♭ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| C | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| E | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | augmented fifth |
Written G♯aug, it's the same chord with the same keys.
Keys and progressions with A♭aug
A♭aug on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try A♭aug on ukulele or A♭aug on guitar, or compare them on the A♭aug chord page.
Close to A♭aug
Other augmented chords
A♭aug on piano: questions
What notes are in A♭aug on piano?
A♭, C and E: A♭ (black key), C (white key) and E (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play A♭aug on piano?
Press A♭, C and E together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on A♭, 3 on C and 5 on E.
What are the inversions of A♭aug?
1st inversion (C–E–A♭) and 2nd inversion (E–A♭–C), after root position (A♭–C–E). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does A♭aug look like on the keyboard?
black, white and white keys, the same pattern as D♭aug and E♭aug, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside A♭aug. Updated September 2026.