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E♭ augmented chord on bass (E♭aug)
Also called or written E♭aug or E♭+
E♭ augmented contains E♭, G, and B. The 4th-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 E♭ augmented chord on bass?
E♭ augmented is played at the 4th fret as × 6 5 4: ring finger on the A string at fret 6, middle finger on the D string at fret 5 and index finger on the G string at fret 4. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 2 | G (3) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (♯5) |
IntermediateThe ring finger reaches to the 6th fret on the A string while the index stays at the 4th fret on the G string, creating a two-fret stretch.
9th fret
E♭ augmented is played at the 9th fret as 11 10 9 ×: ring finger on the E string at fret 11, middle finger on the A string at fret 10 and index finger on the D string at fret 9. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (3) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | B (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
E♭aug/G inversion
E♭ augmented is played in open position as 3 2 1 0: ring finger on the E string at fret 3, middle finger on the A string at fret 2 and index finger on the D string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (3) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (♯5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
E♭aug/B inversion · open position
E♭ augmented is played in open position as × 2 1 0: middle finger on the A string at fret 2 and index finger on the D string at fret 1. The G string rings open. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (♯5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
E♭aug/B inversion · fret 5
E♭ augmented is played at the 5th fret as 7 6 5 ×: ring finger on the E string at fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 6 and index finger on the D string at fret 5. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 1 | G (3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ augmented is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5. The augmented 5th from E♭ to B gives the chord its tense, unresolved quality. Compare it with E♭ major, which uses B♭ instead.
What goes wrong with E♭ augmented?
- Letting the ring finger flatten onto the D string, which deadens the G.
- Allowing the muted E string to ring, adding an extra note that changes the voicing.
- Pressing the middle finger too far from the fret, causing the D string to buzz.
When to use it
E♭ augmented works as a passing chord in E♭ major, often moving to E♭ major or E♭ 5th. Its unstable sound suits rock, blues, and funk lines that need a brief lift before resolving.
Changing to and from E♭ augmented
- Move to E♭ major by lowering the B on the G string one fret to B♭ while keeping the other fingers in place.
- Slide the shape up one fret to the 5th fret to reach E augmented.
Which voicing to use
The 4th-fret position keeps E♭ in the bass for a root-position sound. The E♭aug/G inversion at the 1st fret puts G on the bottom, which softens the chord's drive and works well when the bass line moves stepwise.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ augmented written?
E♭ augmented is written as E♭+ or E♭aug. The ASCII root is Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ augmented and E♭ major?
E♭ augmented raises the fifth from B♭ to B. That single change makes the chord sound tense and unresolved, while E♭ major sounds stable.
Can I play E♭ augmented higher on the neck?
Yes, the 9th-fret position uses the same shape on the E, A, and D strings. It gives a brighter register but the same chord tones.