Eaug: E Augmented Piano Chord

Second inversion: either hand, fingers low note to high
Hand	Notes	Fingers
Right	B♯, E, G♯	1-3-5
Left	B♯, E, G♯	5-2-1

Scale degree, note, and interval measured from the root.
Degree	Note	Interval from root	Semitones
1	E	Perfect unison	0
3	G♯	Major third	4
♯5	B♯	Minor sixth	8

Construction

E Augmented = Root + Major 3rd + Minor 6th = E, G♯, B♯

Note	Interval	Degree
E	Root	1
G♯	Major 3rd	3
B♯	Minor 6th	♯5

Fingering

Note	Key color	Right hand	Left hand
E	white	thumb (1)	little finger (5)
G♯	black	middle finger (3)	middle finger (3)
B♯	white	little finger (5)	thumb (1)

Right hand: thumb (1) on E, middle finger (3) on G♯, little finger (5) on B♯.

Left hand: little finger (5) on E, middle finger (3) on G♯, thumb (1) on B♯.

E Augmented Inversions

Root position
E – G♯ – B♯
1st inversion (Eaug/G♯)
G♯ – B♯ – E
2nd inversion (Eaug/B♯)
B♯ – E – G♯

Key Signature

A Augmented chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn't belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.

Chords in the Key of E Major

These are the triads built on each degree of E Major:

I — E Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	E Major	Major
2	ii	F♯ Minor	Minor
3	iii	G♯ Minor	Minor
4	IV	A Major	Major
5	V	B Major	Major
6	vi	C♯ Minor	Minor
7	vii°	D♯ Diminished	Diminished

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes E – G♯ – B♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell the following:

C Augmented→G♯ Augmented→

E Augmented : Frequently Asked Questions

What is the E Augmented chord on piano?

The E Augmented chord contains the notes E – G♯ – B♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.

What notes are in the E Augmented chord?

The E Augmented chord contains three notes: E (root), G# (major third), and B# (augmented fifth, one semitone higher than a perfect fifth). The augmented fifth is what gives this chord its tense, unresolved quality.

How does the E Augmented chord differ from E Major?

The only difference between E Augmented and E Major is the fifth: E Major has a perfect fifth, while E Augmented raises it by one semitone to an augmented fifth (B#). This single change transforms a stable, resolved chord into one full of tension and forward motion.

What is the symbol for the E Augmented chord?

The E Augmented chord is written as Eaug or E+. The "aug" or "+" symbol indicates the augmented fifth. In lead sheets and chord charts, both notations are common: Eaug appears in classical and jazz contexts while E+ is common in pop and rock.

How do I use the E Augmented chord in music?

Augmented chords create tension and a sense of motion. The most common uses are: (1) as a chromatic passing chord between the I and IV chords (e.g., E → Eaug → IV), (2) over a chromatic bass line moving upward, and (3) in jazz as a substitute for dominant chords. The augmented fifth wants to resolve up by one semitone.

What are the inversions of the E Augmented chord?

The E Augmented chord has a unique property: all three of its inversions are enharmonically equivalent. Because each note is separated by exactly 4 semitones (a major third), rotating the notes always produces the same interval structure. Eaug in root position, first inversion, and second inversion all sound the same quality.

What songs use augmented chords?

Augmented chords appear in Oh! Darling (Beatles), which uses Aaug as a chromatic passing chord, and in many jazz standards as chromatic dominant substitutes. Stevie Wonder and Elton John frequently use augmented chords for their characteristic tension-building quality.

E Augmented in detail

Exact

Every pitch class is present and nothing outside the chord is added.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation
Close, root position	E3 G♯3 B♯4	8	110 mm	none	identical
Close, first inversion	G♯3 B♯4 E4	8	110 mm	none	identical
Close, second inversion	B♯4 E4 G♯4	8	110 mm	none	identical
Open, fifth on top	E2 B♯3 G♯3	16	220 mm	none	identical

Reduced

A subset of the pitch classes: the identity is incomplete rather than altered.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation	Fit
Root and third only	E3 G♯3	4	55 mm	omits B♯	subset

Spans are measured centre to centre at a 165 mm octave (standard keyboard geometry).

Position	Bass note	Notes in order	Figured bass	Semitones	Span
Root position	E	E3, G♯3, B♯4	5/3	8	110 mm
First inversion: Eaug/G♯	G♯	G♯3, B♯4, E4	6/3	8	110 mm
Second inversion: Eaug/B♯	B♯	B♯4, E4, G♯4	6/4	8	110 mm

One position per chord tone in the bass. Spans are for close position: voiced inversions appear under Voicings.

Change one note

Chords a single note away, and what moving that note does.

Chord	Change	Formula	Common tones
Eaug7	adds D	1 3 ♯5 ♭7	3
E	B♯ becomes B	1 3 5	2
Emaj7	B♯ becomes B, D♯	1 3 5 7	2
E7	B♯ becomes B, D	1 3 5 ♭7	2
E6	B♯ becomes B, C♯	1 3 5 6	2
Eadd9	B♯ becomes B, F♯	1 3 5 9	2
Em	G♯, B♯ becomes G, B	1 ♭3 5	1
Edim	G♯, B♯ becomes G, B♭	1 ♭3 ♭5	1
Esus2	G♯, B♯ becomes F♯, B	1 2 5	1
Esus4	G♯, B♯ becomes A, B	1 4 5	1

Frequencies

Note	MIDI	Frequency
E3	52	164.81 Hz
G♯3	56	207.65 Hz
B♯4	60	261.63 Hz

Reference pitch A440, 12-TET, close root position.

Set theory: prime form, Forte number, interval vector

Absolute pitch class set: {4, 8, 0}
Normal order: [0, 4, 8]
Prime form: (048)
Forte number: 3-12
Interval vector: <000300>

Pair	Interval	Semitones	Interval class
E to G♯	Major third	4	4
E to B♯	Minor sixth	8	4
G♯ to B♯	Major third	4	4

Where these facts come from

Every value on this page is derived from the note formula for a augmented applied to the root E, using standard music theory. Nothing here is hand-entered per chord, so the notes, intervals, inversions and frequencies cannot drift out of agreement with each other. Pitches assume 12-TET at A440.

E Augmented

Fingerings

E Augmented: notes and degrees