Guitar chord reference
C Augmented guitar chord: five CAGED shapes
An augmented triad raises the 5th of a major chord, producing three equally spaced major thirds. Its symmetry makes inversions sound closely related and creates strong outward motion.
Chord construction and function
The raised 5th is the colour tone; hear it against both root and major 3rd. Because the structure repeats every four semitones, visual root awareness prevents ambiguous naming.
- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · ♯5
- Notes in Caug
- C · E · G♯
Caug in CAGED neck order
Root notes are highlighted. Each region uses a compact playable voicing, with muted strings, suggested fingers and barres shown explicitly.
C shape
Fingers: × · 4 · 3 · 1 · 1 · ×
Finger 1 barre · fret 1 · strings 3–2
A shape
Fingers: × · 1 · 4 · 2 · 2 · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 5 · strings 3–2
G shape
Fingers: 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 · × · ×
E shape
Fingers: 1 · 4 · 3 · 2 · × · ×
D shape
Fingers: × · × · 1 · 3 · 3 · 2
Finger 3 barre · fret 13 · strings 3–2
Practice drill
Alternate major and augmented versions on one root, then resolve ♯5 upward by a semitone. Repeat in every CAGED form while keeping the common tones sustained.
Follow the guitar chord practice guide for clean placement, timed changes and connected CAGED movement.
Learn how the five movable forms overlap, where their roots sit and when to use partial voicings in the CAGED system guide.
Open the chord randomiser