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C Augmented (Caug) Chord Guitar

A compact whole-tone triad on the top strings — restless and unresolved.

Built by raising the 5th of C major a semitone, G up to G♯.
Three notes in equal major thirds, with no perfect 5th to settle on.
Works as a passing chord pushing toward F major or A minor.
Shares its exact notes with Eaug and G♯aug — one shape, three names.

Root3rd5th

Index finger covers the G and B strings at the 1st fret

Not played

E6th string

FretMuted

Finger—

Not played

A5th string

FretMuted

Finger—

3rd

DBass4th string

Fret2

Finger2 middle

5th

G3rd string

Fret1

Finger1 index

Root

B2nd string

Fret1

Finger1 index

3rd

e1st string

FretOpen

Finger—

NotesC – E – G#

Formula1 – 3 – ♯5

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TonesC×1·E×2·G#×1

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Questions about C Augmented (Caug)

What notes are in a C Augmented (Caug) chord?

A C Augmented (Caug) chord contains the notes C, E, G#. It is built from the augmented formula 1 - 3 - ♯5, with C as the root.

Why does C augmented sound unresolved?

Because every interval inside it is the same size. Stacking two major thirds (C to E, then E to G♯) leaves a chord with no perfect 5th and no obvious top or bottom, so the ear can’t settle on which note is the root. That symmetry is exactly why augmented chords feel suspended in mid-air, and why they're used to create movement rather than arrival.

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C Augmented (Caug) Chord Guitar

This chord sounds even better than it looks.

Questions about C Augmented (Caug)

What notes are in a C Augmented (Caug) chord?

Why does C augmented sound unresolved?

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