How to play the Eaug chord on guitar

The Eaug chord, pronounced E augmented, is a sharp and striking chord that adds tension and brightness to a progression. Formed by raising the fifth note of an E major triad, this chord is denoted as E+ or Eaug. While less common in popular music, it can be heard in jazz, classical, and some rock songs to create an unsettled or suspenseful atmosphere.

The Eaug chord is typically played as a barre chord on the 1st fret of the guitar.

Follow these finger positions to play a Eaug chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 1st (high E), 2nd (B), 3rd (G), 4th (D), 5th (A), and 6th (low E) strings, forming a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd (G) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 2nd fret of the 2nd (B) string.

Strum all six strings together in a downward motion to play the Eaug chord.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Eaug chord, try this:

1. Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 3rd (G) string.
2. Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Leave the other strings open.
4. Strum only the top five strings.

Playing the Eaug chord as a barre chord can be a good option if you want a fuller, more resonant sound or need to switch quickly between chords in a progression.

Here's how to play an Eaug barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 7th fret, forming a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 9th fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
5. Strum all six strings from low to high.

The E augmented (Eaug) chord, with its bright and somewhat unsettling sound, is often used to add tension and drama to chord progressions. Here are a few common progressions featuring the Eaug chord:

• I - Iaug - vi - IV (E - Eaug - C#m - A): Used in "A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles
• I - Iaug - IV - iv (E - Eaug - A - Am): Used in "Oh! Darling" by The Beatles
• I - Iaug - vi - V (E - Eaug - C#m - B)
• I - Iaug - ii - V (E - Eaug - F#m - B)
• I - Iaug - bVI - bVII (E - Eaug - C - D)

To master the Eaug guitar chord, try practicing the chord progression Eaug-E-Eaug-E repeatedly. This will help your fingers develop muscle memory and make transitioning between the chords feel more natural.

Another effective drill is to play the Eaug chord as whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes. This exercise will improve your timing and help you maintain the chord shape consistently. As you become more comfortable with the chord, try incorporating it into simple songs or chord progressions to make your practice more engaging and musical.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Eaug chord.

1. All by Myself by Eric Carmen (Eaug, Caug, Faug, Dm)
2. Riders on the Storm by The Doors (Em7, A, Eaug, D)
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles (A, A7, Eaug, F#m)
4. Bird on the Wire by Leonard Cohen (F, Dm, Eaug, F)
5. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (Am, Eaug, C/G, D/F#, Fm7, Am/G)
6. Life on Mars? by David Bowie (F, Gm, Eaug, F)
7. Living in the Past by Jethro Tull (Eaug, F#m, D)
8. Magic Man by Heart (Am, D/F#, Eaug, D)
9. Space Oddity by David Bowie (Fmaj7, Em, Eaug, Fmaj7)
10. Girl by The Beatles (Am, Am/G, Fmaj7, Eaug)