G augmented (Gaug) chord on banjo

Looking for the Gaug chord on banjo? It is an augmented triad (two major thirds), made of three notes: G – B – D♯.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 4easy

Position 8easy

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the Gaug 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 Gaug chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 1, middle finger (D♯4)
String 2 (B): open (B3)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (D♯3)

Position 4, barre at fret 4

String 1 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, index finger (D♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 4, index finger (B3)
String 4 (D): fret 5, middle finger (G3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 4; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 8, barre at fret 8

String 1 (D): fret 9, ring finger (B4)
String 2 (B): fret 8, index finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 8, index finger (D♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 9, middle finger (B3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 8; 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 Gaug chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

E minor: III+

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

E♭aug – the same notes with a different root
Baug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Gaug chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play Gaug 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 Gaug chord written?

The chord symbol is Gaug, and its full name is G augmented.