A augmented chord on ukulele (Aaug)

Aaug is A, C♯ and E♯. The easiest shape is 2-1-1-0. Tap Play, then slow it down.

2-1-1-0 · open · easy

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

How to play Aaug on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-1-1-0, reading from the G string on the left:

C♯: index finger, 1st fret of the C string.
E♯: middle finger, 1st fret of the E string.
A: ring finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
Leave the A string open: A.

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.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Aaug

6-5-5-4: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
10-9-9-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Moving between Aaug and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold Aaug for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

D (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): Aaug (2-1-1-0) to D (2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: A. D on ukulele
E (V in A major): Aaug (2-1-1-0) to E (1-4-0-2): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the C string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. E on ukulele
F♯m (vi in A major): Aaug (2-1-1-0) to F♯m (2-1-2-0): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the E string, 2nd fret. A and C♯ carry over from one chord to the other. F♯m on ukulele

Aaug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. All 3 notes of Aaug fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Getting Aaug under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, C♯, E♯, A. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate 2-1-1-0 and 6-5-5-4, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with Aaug

Aaug on guitar and piano

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

Related A chords on ukulele

Other augmented chords

Aaug on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Aaug on ukulele?

A, C♯ and E♯. In the 2-1-1-0 shape the strings play A (G string), C♯ (C string), E♯ (E string) and A (A string, open), so A is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Aaug on ukulele?

2-1-1-0, shape 1 above. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is Aaug a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 2-1-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Aaug start on?

In the 2-1-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes A, C♯ and E♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.