E augmented chord on guitar (Eaug)

Eaug is E, G♯ and B♯. The usual shape is 0-3-2-1-1-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

0-3-2-1-1-0 · open · medium

Notes: E · G♯ · B♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · ♯5
First shape: 0-3-2-1-1-0

How to play Eaug on guitar

Shape 1, 0-3-2-1-1-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

G♯: index finger, 1st fret of the G string.
B♯: middle finger, 1st fret of the B string.
E: ring finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
B♯: pinky finger, 3rd fret of the A string.
Leave the low E and high E strings open: E and E.

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.
This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.

Other ways to play Eaug

x-7-6-5-5-x: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-14-13-13-12: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.
12-11-10-9-9-x: partial barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Playing Eaug with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 4th fret and play the open Caug shape (x-3-2-1-1-0). The chord sounds as Eaug because the capo raises every string by 4 half steps.

Changing from Eaug to the chords around it

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 (0-3-2-1-1-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the D string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share E, which is why the change sounds smooth. A on guitar
B (V in E major): Eaug (0-3-2-1-1-0) to B (x-2-4-4-4-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 4th fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B on guitar
C♯m (vi in E major): Eaug (0-3-2-1-1-0) to C♯m (x-4-6-6-5-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 5th fret, the ring finger goes to the D string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. E and G♯ carry over from one chord to the other. C♯m on guitar

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. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short Eaug drill

Before strumming, play 0-3-2-1-1-0 note by note: E then B♯ then E then G♯ then B♯ then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Then switch to x-7-6-5-5-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

Keys and progressions with Eaug

Eaug on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Eaug on ukulele or Eaug on piano, or compare them on the Eaug chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other augmented chords

Eaug on guitar: questions

What notes are in Eaug on guitar?

E, G♯ and B♯. In the 0-3-2-1-1-0 shape the strings play E (low E string, open), B♯ (A string), E (D string), G♯ (G string), B♯ (B string) and E (high E string, open), so E and B♯ are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Eaug on guitar?

Eaug takes a little stretching on guitar; start with 0-3-2-1-1-0. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is Eaug a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: 0-3-2-1-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Eaug start on?

In the 0-3-2-1-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string, open, which is E, the root.

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