G augmented chord on piano (Gaug)
Gaug is G, B and D♯. You'll find G between the first two black keys of the three (a white key). Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · G–B–D♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
How to play Gaug on piano
Count keys (black and white) from G: 4 half steps up to B then 4 half steps up to D♯. That's the whole chord: 3 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B and 5 on D♯.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B and 1 on D♯.
- On the keyboard it's white, white and black keys, the same pattern as Caug and Faug, so your hand shape carries over.
Gaug inversions
- root position: G–B–D♯. Fingers 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: B–D♯–G (B in the bass). RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: D♯–G–B (D♯ in the bass). Right hand 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.
Gaug chord changes
These are the changes you'll meet most often with Gaug, using the first shape of each chord.
- C (the raised fifth pushes up into the IV): Gaug to C: play C in 2nd inversion (G–C–E) and G stays under the same finger, while B moves up to C and D♯ up to E. C on piano
- D (V in G major): Gaug to D: play D in 1st inversion (F♯–A–D), while G moves down to F♯, B down to A and D♯ down to D. D on piano
- Em (vi in G major): Gaug to Em: play Em in 1st inversion (G–B–E) and G and B stay under the same fingers, while D♯ moves up to E. Em on piano
Gaug is an augmented triad: two major thirds stacked, with a raised fifth. Gaug 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.
A short Gaug drill
Start with a broken chord, G B D♯ B G, then play it solid. Finish with the inversions in order: G–B–D♯; B–D♯–G; D♯–G–B.
The keys of Gaug
Gaug is a augmented chord, 1–3–♯5 from G. Root position, from the bottom: how Gaug is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| B | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| D♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | augmented fifth |
Gaug in context
Gaug on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try Gaug on ukulele or Gaug on guitar, or compare them on the Gaug chord page.
Close to Gaug
Other augmented chords
Gaug on piano: questions
What notes are in Gaug on piano?
G, B and D♯: G (white key), B (white key) and D♯ (black key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Gaug on piano?
Press G, B and D♯ together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B and 5 on D♯.
What are the inversions of Gaug?
1st inversion (B–D♯–G) and 2nd inversion (D♯–G–B), after root position (G–B–D♯). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does Gaug look like on the keyboard?
white, white and black keys, the same pattern as Caug and Faug, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Gaug. Updated September 2026.