B♭ augmented (B♭aug) chord on banjo

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

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 7easy

Position 11easy

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What the B♭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 B♭aug chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	B♭	root
3	D	major third (4 semitones)
5	F♯	augmented fifth (8 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape, barre at fret 3

String 1 (D): fret 4, middle finger (F♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, index finger (B♭3)
String 4 (D): open (D3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 7, barre at fret 7

String 1 (D): fret 8, ring finger (B♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, index finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, index finger (D4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, middle finger (B♭3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 7; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 11, barre at fret 11

String 1 (D): fret 12, ring finger (D5)
String 2 (B): fret 11, index finger (B♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 11, index finger (F♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 12, middle finger (D4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 11; 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 B♭aug chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

G minor: III+

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

Daug – the same notes with a different root
F♯aug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭aug chord?

B♭, D, F♯. The root is B♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, augmented fifth.

What is the easiest way to play B♭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.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.