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Chord shapes

Aaug guitar chord

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Chord diagram

Shape 1 of 3

Open Aaug · Frets 0-3

Aaug

1234
E
B
G
D
Related chords

Shape difficulty

Intermediate

Main challenge: Avoiding unwanted strings so the intended voicing speaks cleanly when you strum through it.

Chord tones

Root notes stay highlighted so the voicing reads faster at a glance.

A1F#5C♯3
RootChord tone

Notes

Notes in A Augmented

A Augmented uses A as the root, C♯ as the major third, and E♯ as the augmented fifth.

A

root

1

anchors the chord and gives the voicing its name.

C♯

major third

3

tells the ear that the chord belongs to the major sound.

E♯

augmented fifth

#5

removes the usual stable fifth and makes the sound feel more unsettled.

Sound and feel

What A Augmented sounds like

A Augmented has a bright but unsettled sound.

Compared with a plain major chord, the raised fifth makes the upper part of the voicing feel like it is leaning somewhere else.

Playing tips

How to play A Augmented on guitar

Root anchor

Find the root on the A string before you place the other fingers.

Setup

Set the fretted notes first, then confirm the open strings still ring before the full strum.

Strum path

Start the strum from the A string so the low E string stay out.

Open strings

Keep the A string clear; those open notes belong in the voicing.

Clearance

Keep each fingertip vertical so the adjacent strings stay separate.

Check

Pick through the strings once before you strum hard, and fix the first dull note you hear.

Theory

Why A Augmented works

Formula1 - 3 - #5

A Augmented uses the formula 1 - 3 - #5.

Compared with A Major, A Augmented replaces E (5) with E♯ (#5).

Raising the fifth removes the usual stable upper anchor and gives the chord its distinctive sense of expansion and tension.

Musical context

Where A Augmented commonly appears

A Augmented makes the most sense once you hear the chord it resolves into next.

A major chord

A Augmented is most often used as a color chord on the same root as a major chord, then pushed onward into the next harmony.

color-chord use

A Augmented is more common as a songwriting or arranging device than as a stock beginner chord, because it creates tension without feeling like a home chord.

passing tensionA major

A Augmented can appear inside major-key writing when a progression needs a brighter, less predictable push into the next chord.

Quick answers

FAQ about A Augmented

Explore next

Related chords and next sounds

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Simpler and richer same-root versions

A Major

Strip this color back to the simpler same-root version.

A7

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A Major 7

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Closely related chords

A Major

Return to the plain major version on the same root.

D Major

A common destination chord a fourth above when the augmented sound is used as a push.

F♯ Minor

Relative minor target often used after a bright augmented color.

Related scales and parent keys

A Major

Major scale around the plain root chord this color usually decorates.

A Major Pentatonic

Major pentatonic material for hearing the same root more simply.

Keep exploring

A chords

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All chords

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Related scales

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Reference

Quick reference

Keep the notes, formula, and difficulty label in view while you practice.

Notes
A, C♯, and E♯
Formula
1 - 3 - #5
Main shape
open shape
Root string
A string
Featured difficulty
Intermediate

Same root

A chords

Compare this root across major, minor, suspended, seventh, power, and added-tone colors.