C♯ augmented (C♯aug) chord on mandolin

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

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 3medium

Position 5medium

Position 7medium

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

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the C♯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 C♯aug 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): fret 1, index finger (E♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, little finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, ring finger (E♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 2, middle finger (G𝄪3)

Position 3

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

Position 5

String 1 (E): fret 5, index finger (G𝄪5)
String 2 (A): fret 8, little finger (E♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 7, ring finger (G𝄪4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, middle finger (C♯4)

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.

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯aug 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

Faug – the same notes with a different root
Aaug – the same notes with a different root

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯aug 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 C♯aug on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. 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 C♯aug chord written?

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