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A♭ augmented chord on guitar (A♭aug)
Also called or written A♭aug or A♭+
A♭ augmented contains A♭, C, and E. The open voicing is a simple three-string shape, ideal for beginners.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5
- Root positionA♭–C–EA♭aug×-×-×-1-1-0
- First inversionC–E–A♭A♭aug/C×-3-2-1-1-0
- Second inversionE–A♭–CA♭aug/E0-3-2-1-1-0
How do you play an A♭ augmented chord on guitar?
A♭ augmented is played in open position as × × × 1 1 0: index finger on the G string at fret 1 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The high e string rings open. The low E, A and D strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (3) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (♯5) |
BeginnerMuting the three lowest strings while fretting the top two requires precise hand positioning.
2nd fret
A♭ augmented is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 2 × × ×: ring finger on the low 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, B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (3) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
4th fret
A♭ augmented is played at the 4th fret as × × 6 5 5 4: pinky finger on the D string at fret 6, middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the B string at fret 5 and index finger on the high e string at fret 4. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (3) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 3 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
9th fret
A♭ augmented is played at the 9th fret as × 11 10 9 9 ×: pinky finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 10, index finger on the G string at fret 9 and middle finger on the B string at fret 9. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 3 | C (3) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (♯5) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
12th fret
A♭ augmented is played at the 12th fret as × × × 13 13 12: middle finger on the G string at fret 13, ring finger on the B string at fret 13 and index finger on the high e string at fret 12. The low E, A and D strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 3 | C (3) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 1 | E (♯5) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ augmented is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, stacking two major 3rds: A♭ to C and C to E. The augmented 5th gives the chord its distinctive unstable quality. Compare it with A♭ major, which has a perfect 5th instead.
What goes wrong with A♭ augmented?
- Letting the 4th string ring open, which adds a D that is not in the chord.
- Muting the high e string with the palm, which removes the top E.
When to use it
Use the supplied linked chords to hear its tension without adding unsupported harmony. It suits jazz, classical, and cinematic passages. Try it before A♭ major or after A♭ 7th.
Changing to and from A♭ augmented
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives A augmented.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 4th fret gives B♭ augmented.
Which voicing to use
The open position keeps the root A♭ in the bass and is the easiest to play. The 4th fret shape uses only the top three strings for a brighter, thinner sound. The 2nd fret inversion places A♭ on the low E string for a fuller register.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ augmented written?
A♭ augmented is written as A♭+ or A♭aug. The root is A♭, with ASCII alternative 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 5th from E♭ to E, creating two major 3rds. A♭ major has a perfect 5th and sounds stable, while A♭ augmented sounds tense and unresolved.
Can I play A♭ augmented in a higher register?
Yes, the 12th fret voicing places the root A♭ on the 3rd string, 13th fret. It sounds brighter and works well for arpeggios.