E augmented chord on piano (Eaug)
Eaug is E, G♯ and B♯. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Hit Play and watch each key light as it sounds.
root position · E–G♯–B♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
How to play Eaug on piano
Count keys (black and white) from E: 4 half steps up to G♯ then 4 half steps up to B♯. Those 3 keys are Eaug.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G♯ and 5 on B♯.
- Left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G♯ and 1 on B♯.
- On the keyboard it's white, black and white keys, the same pattern as Aaug and Baug, so your hand shape carries over.
Eaug inversions
- root position: E–G♯–B♯. Fingers 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: G♯–B♯–E (G♯ in the bass). RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: B♯–E–G♯, with B♯ at the bottom. RH 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Moving between Eaug and its neighbours
Songs rarely hold Eaug for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- A (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): 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 on piano
- B (V in E major): 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 on piano
- C♯m (vi in E major): 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 on piano
Eaug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. Eaug is a stepping stone: it often moves on to the IV chord, with the raised fifth rising one more half step. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Practice Eaug in two minutes
Roll the chord up and back down, E, G♯, B♯, G♯, E, before playing it as a block. Finish with the inversions in order: E–G♯–B♯; G♯–B♯–E; B♯–E–G♯.
The keys of Eaug
Eaug is a augmented chord, 1–3–♯5 from E. Root position, from the bottom: how Eaug is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| G♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| B♯ | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | augmented fifth |
Eaug in context
Eaug on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: Eaug on guitar and Eaug on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Close to Eaug
Other augmented chords
Eaug on piano: questions
What notes are in Eaug on piano?
E, G♯ and B♯: E (white key), G♯ (black key) and B♯ (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Eaug on piano?
Press E, G♯ and B♯ together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G♯ and 5 on B♯.
What are the inversions of Eaug?
1st inversion (G♯–B♯–E) and 2nd inversion (B♯–E–G♯), after root position (E–G♯–B♯). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does Eaug look like on the keyboard?
white, black and white keys, the same pattern as Aaug and Baug, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯ and B♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.