F♯ augmented (F♯aug) chord on banjo

Augmented triad (two major thirds) on F♯: the notes of the F♯aug chord are F♯ – A♯ – C𝄪. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ augmented (G♭aug).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 7easy

Position 11easy

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What the F♯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 F♯aug chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape, barre at fret 3

String 1 (D): open (C𝄪4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (C𝄪4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, index finger (A♯3)
String 4 (D): fret 4, middle finger (F♯3)

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 (A♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, index finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, index finger (C𝄪4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, middle finger (A♯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 (C𝄪5)
String 2 (B): fret 11, index finger (A♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 11, index finger (F♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 12, middle finger (C𝄪4)

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

D♯ minor: III+

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

Daug – the same notes with a different root
B♭aug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯aug chord?

F♯, A♯, C𝄪. The root is F♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, augmented fifth.

What is the easiest way to play F♯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 F♯aug chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯aug (also written F#aug), and its full name is F♯ augmented.