F♯ augmented (F♯aug) chord on guitar

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

Dots show:

Easy versioneasy

Open positionmedium

Position 6medium

Position 8medium

Position 12medium

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 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

Easy version, barre at fret 3

String 1 (e): not played
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)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

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

Open position

String 1 (e): fret 2, ring finger (F♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, little finger (C𝄪4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, little finger (A♯3)
String 4 (D): open (C𝄪3)
String 5 (A): fret 1, index finger (A♯2)
String 6 (E): fret 2, middle finger (F♯2)

Position 6

String 1 (e): fret 6, index finger (A♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, middle finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, middle finger (C𝄪4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, ring finger (A♯3)
String 5 (A): fret 9, little finger (F♯3)
String 6 (E): not played

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. 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 guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Easy version”, rated easy. We show 5 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.