The short version
- Caug is C augmented. Its notes are C, E and G♯ (formula 1 – 3 – ♯5).
- Easiest way to play it: the open shape, frets x 3 2 1 1 0 from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds unsettled, dreamy, about-to-happen. Use it for one beat between the I chord and the IV or vi chord. It makes the change slide instead of step.
- Caug isn’t in any major or natural-minor key on its own. It’s a borrowed chord: you drop it in for colour or as a passing chord.
- Try it in: C – Caug – F – Fm, a chromatic slide straight out of a 1960s ballad.
How to play Caug on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the open chord, the easiest way in.
- Put your index finger on fret 1 of the 3rd (G) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 1 of the 2nd (B) string.
- Put your ring finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string.
- Put your little finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string.
- Let the high E string ring open.
- Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
- Strum from the 5th (A) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other 2 shapes. Shape 2 is the movable shape, root on the 5th string (3rd fret): x 3 6 5 5 x. Shape 3 is the movable shape, root on the 6th string (8th fret): 8 x 10 9 9 x. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Buzzing? Press just behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret, and come down on your fingertips so they don’t touch the next string. Then press Strum and play along: if yours sounds duller, one string is muted somewhere.
Notes in the Caug chord
Caug is built from 3 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still Caug.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| E | 3 major third | Makes it major (happy). |
| G♯ | ♯5 augmented fifth | The “something’s about to happen” bit. |
What Caug sounds like, and when to use it
A major chord with its fifth pushed up a semitone. Unsettled and dreamy, like the moment before a plot twist. Use it for one beat between the I chord and the IV or vi chord. It makes the change slide instead of step.
What key is Caug in?
Caug isn’t in any major or natural-minor key on its own. It’s a borrowed chord: you drop it in for colour or as a passing chord.
Chords that go with Caug
Here’s a progression to try: C – Caug – F – Fm (I–I+–IV–iv), a chromatic slide straight out of a 1960s ballad.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using Caug in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
Psychedelic pop, 96 BPM, chord progression C – Caug – F – Fm, augmented passing chords, chromatic guitar line, swirling organ, whimsical 60s vocals
Caug chord FAQ
What notes are in the Caug chord?
Caug has 3 notes: C (the root), E (the major third) and G♯ (the augmented fifth). The chord formula is 1 – 3 – ♯5.
How do you play Caug on guitar?
The easy way is open chord. Strings from low E to high E: x 3 2 1 1 0 (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 1 of the 3rd (G) string. Put your middle finger on fret 1 of the 2nd (B) string. Put your ring finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string. Put your little finger on fret 3 of the 5th (A) string. Let the high E string ring open. Don’t play the low E string: skip it, or touch it lightly with a spare finger so it can’t ring.
What does the “aug” in Caug mean?
It tells you the chord type: Caug is C augmented. A major chord with its fifth pushed up a semitone. Unsettled and dreamy, like the moment before a plot twist.
What key is Caug in?
Caug isn’t in any major or natural-minor key on its own. It’s a borrowed chord: you drop it in for colour or as a passing chord.
What is the difference between Caug and C?
C has a perfect fifth (G). Caug raises it a semitone to G♯, which makes the chord sound unsettled and dreamy.
What chords go well with Caug?
Try C, F, Am and C6. The progression C – Caug – F – Fm (I–I+–IV–iv) is a chromatic slide straight out of a 1960s ballad. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other augmented chords
Got the chord? Now write the song
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