A♭ augmented (A♭aug) chord on banjo

The A♭ augmented chord (A♭aug) is an augmented triad (two major thirds), made of three notes: A♭ – C – E. The same chord with a different spelling: G♯ augmented (G♯aug).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 5easy

Position 9easy

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What the A♭aug chord sounds like

An augmented triad is two stacked major thirds. It sounds floating, dreamlike and unresolved, and is often a passing chord (e.g. C → Caug → F or Am).

Notes of the A♭aug chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A♭	root
3	C	major third (4 semitones)
5	E	augmented fifth (8 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape, barre at fret 1

String 1 (D): fret 2, ring finger (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, index finger (C4)
String 3 (G): fret 1, index finger (A♭3)
String 4 (D): fret 2, middle finger (E3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 1; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 5, barre at fret 5

String 1 (D): fret 6, ring finger (A♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 5, index finger (E4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, index finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 6, middle finger (A♭3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 5; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 9, barre at fret 9

String 1 (D): fret 10, ring finger (C5)
String 2 (B): fret 9, index finger (A♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 9, index finger (E4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, middle finger (C4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 9; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The A♭aug chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F minor: III+

Similar chords and substitutes

If A♭aug is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A♭ – the raised fifth falls back to a perfect fifth
C♯ – as a passing chord it resolves here (V+ → I)

Same notes

Caug – the same notes with a different root
Eaug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭aug chord?

A♭, C, E. The root is A♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, augmented fifth.

What is the easiest way to play A♭aug on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the A♭aug chord written?

The chord symbol is A♭aug (also written Abaug), and its full name is A♭ augmented.