D♭ augmented chord on guitar (D♭aug)

D♭aug is D♭, F and A. The usual shape is x-4-3-2-2-x. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-4-3-2-2-x · movable · medium

Notes: D♭ · F · A
Formula: 1 · 3 · ♯5
First shape: x-4-3-2-2-x

How to play D♭aug on guitar

Shape 1, x-4-3-2-2-x, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

Index finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Middle finger: B string, 2nd fret (D♭).
Ring finger: D string, 3rd fret (F).
Pinky: A string, 4th fret (D♭).
Keep the low E and high E strings quiet by touching them lightly with a fretting finger.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
With four strings sounding, a shorter strum works best: start on the first played string and stop at the high E.

Other ways to play D♭aug

x-x-11-10-10-9: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.
9-8-7-6-6-x: partial barre shape at the 6th fret, medium. Use it when the next chord sits nearby on the neck.

Capo shortcuts for D♭aug

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Caug shape (x-3-2-1-1-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

D♭aug chord changes

The chords D♭aug usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

F♯ (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): D♭aug (x-4-3-2-2-x) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. D♭ carries over from one chord to the other. F♯ on guitar
A♭ (V in D♭ major): D♭aug (x-4-3-2-2-x) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. A♭ on guitar
B♭m (vi in D♭ major): D♭aug (x-4-3-2-2-x) to B♭m (x-1-3-3-2-1): your middle and ring fingers stay put, the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, move the pinky finger to the G string, 3rd fret. The two chords share D♭ and F, which is why the change sounds smooth. B♭m on guitar

D♭aug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. D♭aug 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.

A short D♭aug drill

Before strumming, play x-4-3-2-2-x note by note: D♭ then F then A then D♭. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Finish by moving between x-4-3-2-2-x and x-x-11-10-10-9 to learn two positions of the same chord.

You may also see it as C♯aug; nothing changes on the guitar.

D♭aug in context

D♭aug on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try D♭aug on ukulele or D♭aug on piano, or compare them on the D♭aug chord page.

Related D♭ chords on guitar

Other augmented chords

D♭aug on guitar: questions

What notes are in D♭aug on guitar?

D♭, F and A. In the x-4-3-2-2-x shape the strings play D♭ (A string), F (D string), A (G string) and D♭ (B string), so D♭ is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play D♭aug on guitar?

In standard tuning D♭aug can't use open strings. Begin with x-4-3-2-2-x. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is D♭aug a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-4-3-2-2-x needs no barre.

Which string does D♭aug start on?

In the x-4-3-2-2-x shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 4th fret, which is D♭, the root. Skip the low E and high E strings.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside D♭aug. Updated September 2026.