Piano chord
C Augmented Chord
Caug is an augmented chord built on C. It contains the notes C – E – G♯.
Caug
Also written: C+, C(♯5)
- C
- E
- G♯
Notes in Caug
Count up from C using the intervals below. The formula shows each note relative to the C major scale.
| Notes | Intervals | Formula | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 | 4 |
| G♯ | Augmented 5th | ♯5 | 8 |
How to play Caug on piano
- Right hand: fingers 1–3–5 (thumb on C).
- Left hand: fingers 5–3–1 (little finger on the lowest note).
- Press the keys together, then try playing them one at a time as an arpeggio.
Caug inversions
An inversion puts a different note of Caug at the bottom. The notes stay the same, the colour and voice leading change.
Root position
CaugC – E – G♯
1st inversion
Caug/EE – G♯ – C
2nd inversion
Caug/G♯G♯ – C – E
About augmented chords
Raise the 5th by one semitone and the chord floats in limbo — neither resolved nor completely tense. Dreamlike and unsettling.
Sound: Mysterious & dreamlike
Songs that use it
- Oh! You Pretty Things · David BowieRock
- Michelle · The BeatlesRock
- The Wizard of Oz · Harold ArlenMusical
Keys that contain Caug
Caug is built only from notes of these keys. The Roman numeral shows its role in each key.
Hear Caug with different sounds and compare it with other chords in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
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