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A♭ augmented chord on bass (A♭aug)
Also called or written A♭aug or A♭+
A♭ augmented contains A♭, C, and E. The 2nd-fret shape stacks three notes across adjacent strings, so the left hand stays compact but the stretch is real.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5
How do you play an A♭ augmented chord on bass?
A♭ augmented is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 2 ×: ring finger on the E string at fret 4, middle finger on the A string at fret 3 and index finger on the D string at fret 2. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe ring finger reaches to the 4th fret on the E string while the index stays at the 2nd fret on the D string, creating a two-fret stretch.
9th fret
A♭ augmented is played at the 9th fret as × 11 10 9: ring finger on the A string at fret 11, middle finger on the D string at fret 10 and index finger on the G string at fret 9. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 2 | C (3) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (♯5) |
A♭aug/C inversion · fret 1
A♭ augmented is played at the 1st fret as × 3 2 1: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and index finger on the G string at fret 1. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
A♭aug/C inversion · fret 6
A♭ augmented is played at the 6th fret as 8 7 6 ×: ring finger on the E string at fret 8, middle finger on the A string at fret 7 and index finger on the D string at fret 6. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 3 | C (3) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (♯5) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
A♭aug/C inversion · fret 13
A♭ augmented is played at the 13th fret as × 15 14 13: ring finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the D string at fret 14 and index finger on the G string at fret 13. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 3 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 2 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ augmented is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5. The augmented 5th from A♭ to E gives the chord its tense, unresolved quality. Compare it with A♭ major, which uses E♭ instead.
What goes wrong with A♭ augmented?
- Letting the ring finger flatten onto the A string, which deadens the C.
- Allowing the open G string to ring, adding a note outside the chord.
- Pressing the middle finger too far from the fret, causing the A string to buzz.
When to use it
A♭ augmented works as a passing chord in A♭ major, often moving to A♭ major or A♭ 5th. Its unstable sound suits rock, blues, and funk lines that need a brief lift before resolving.
Changing to and from A♭ augmented
- Move to A♭ major by lowering the E on the D string one fret to E♭ while keeping the other fingers in place.
- Slide the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret to reach A augmented.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret position keeps A♭ in the bass for a root-position sound. The A♭aug/C inversion at the 1st fret puts C on the bottom, which softens the chord's drive and works well when the bass line moves stepwise.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ augmented written?
A♭ augmented is written as A♭+ or A♭aug. The ASCII root is Ab. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ augmented and A♭ major?
A♭ augmented raises the fifth from E♭ to E. That single change makes the chord sound tense and unresolved, while A♭ major sounds stable.
Can I play A♭ augmented higher on the neck?
Yes, the 9th-fret position uses the same shape on the A, D, and G strings. It gives a brighter register but the same chord tones.