C augmented (Caug) chord on mandolin

The C augmented chord (Caug) is an augmented triad (two major thirds), made of three notes: C – E – G♯.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 4medium

Position 6medium

Position 8medium

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 Caug 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 Caug chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 3, ring finger (C5)
String 3 (D): fret 2, middle finger (E4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (G♯3)

Position 4

String 1 (E): fret 4, index finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, little finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, ring finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, middle finger (C4)

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 8, ring finger (C6)
String 2 (A): fret 7, middle finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, index finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 9, little finger (E4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

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

A minor: III+

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

Eaug – the same notes with a different root
A♭aug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Caug chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play Caug on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 4 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 Caug chord written?

The chord symbol is Caug, and its full name is C augmented.