Gaug Chord on Guitar
Gaug = G – B – D# (Root, Major 3rd, Minor 6th)
Gaug raises the fifth of plain G major by a half step, producing the same kind of symmetrical structure as F#aug one fret down — this time built entirely from equal major-third steps rather than the minor thirds a diminished chord uses.
G-B-Eb: root, major third, and augmented fifth, three notes splitting the octave into exactly three equal major-third steps. That symmetry gives Gaug a distinctive whole-tone, weightless character that doesn't point strongly toward any single resolution, since the chord is equally poised in three directions at once. It most often appears as a chromatic embellishment of plain G major, with the fifth sliding up briefly before settling back down, or as a substitute dominant that resolves somewhere less expected thanks to its interchangeable alternate spellings.
Fingerings
Barre (3rd fret)
How to Practice It
Fret plain G major, then practice sliding the finger on the fifth up one fret to the augmented fifth and back — that quick raise-and-release, mirroring how a sus4 resolves downward but applied to the top of the chord instead, is the most common practical use of the augmented color. Because the chord's symmetry lets it be renamed as an augmented triad on B or Eb with no structural change, try thinking of the same fingering under all three names to build comfort with how flexible its function really is.
Common Progressions
- G – Gaug – Cm (I sliding its fifth up before resolving somewhere unexpected)
- Eb – Gaug – Ab (a chromatic passing use of the augmented color between two major chords)
- Gaug – C (a symmetrical dominant substitute resolving deceptively into C major)
- D7 – Gaug – G (using the augmented chord as an altered dominant color before the tonic)
FAQ
- What single change turns G major into Gaug?
- The fifth (D) is raised a half step to the augmented fifth (Eb), while the root and major third stay exactly where they are.
- Why is Gaug called a symmetrical chord?
- Its three notes are spaced by equal major-third intervals, splitting the octave into three identical parts, so the same shape can be thought of as rooted on G, B, or Eb with no structural difference between the readings.
- Does Gaug need to resolve to a specific chord?
- Not in the way a dominant seventh does — its symmetry means it doesn't strongly point toward one particular chord, which is why it's used for unpredictable, slightly disorienting harmonic motion rather than a standard cadence.
- How common is Gaug in everyday guitar playing?
- It's a color chord rather than an everyday one, heard more in jazz and film-influenced writing as a brief chromatic embellishment than as a chord an entire progression is built around.
- Is Gaug physically demanding to fret?
- It's a fairly compact shape without an unusual stretch, comparable in difficulty to the other altered triads in this family; the challenge is usually knowing where it fits musically rather than physically forming it.
Gaug on other instruments: Gaug on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.