C augmented chord (Caug)
Caug is C, E and G♯: 1–3–♯5 built on C. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-3-2-1-1-0 · open · medium
- Notes
- C · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- x-3-2-1-1-0
Caug on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C–E–G♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
Caug on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-0-0-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- C · E · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- First shape
- 1-0-0-3
Where Caug usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what Caug does in songs.
- Caug → F (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV)
Guitar: 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.
Piano: Caug to F: play F in 2nd inversion (C–F–A) and C stays under the same finger, while E moves up to F and G♯ up to A. F - Caug → G (V in C major)
Guitar: 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.
Piano: Caug to G: play G in 1st inversion (B–D–G), while C moves down to B, E down to D and G♯ down to G. G - Caug → Am (vi in C major)
Guitar: 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.
Piano: Caug to Am: play Am in 1st inversion (C–E–A) and C and E stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves up to A. Am
How Caug is built
Caug 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, Caug shares its three notes with Eaug and A♭aug.
From C, go 4 half steps up to E then 4 half steps up to G♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | root | 0 | |
| E | major third | 4 | |
| G♯ | augmented fifth | 8 |
Keys and progressions with Caug
Caug sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to Caug
- Caug and C differ by one note: G♯ in Caug, G in C. They share C and E. C
Chords that share most of their notes with Caug: Eaug, A♭aug, C, C♯m, E, Fm.
Every C chord
C augmented chord: questions
What notes are in the C augmented chord?
C, E and G♯. Caug is built 1–3–♯5 from C: E is the major third and G♯ is the augmented fifth.
How do you play Caug on guitar?
The usual shape is x-3-2-1-1-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Caug on piano?
Play C, E and G♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. C sits just left of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Caug on ukulele?
1-0-0-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Caug in?
Caug sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between Caug and C?
Caug and C differ by one note: G♯ in Caug, G in C. They share C and E.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.