CifraLab

Caug Guitar Chord

Caug guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
CaugGuitar fingering diagram for Caug1234×4312STRING6ª×5ªC4ªE3ªG#2ªC1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets Caug apart

Caug is built from C, E and G#. C is the root, E the major third and G# the sharp fifth. Said aloud, its notes are C, E and G sharp. Its three notes are four semitones apart. Move the shape four frets and you land on the same notes again.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, E, G#, C and E. Of the five strings you play, two give C, the note that names the chord. It runs from C on string 5 up to E on string 1.

In Caug, only one string rings open, string 1, which gives E. Avoid string 6. Your hand covers three frets, from 1 to 3. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 1 and 5.

Change only string 3 in Caug and you have C. Caug and Am have C and E in common. F shares two positions with this shape.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704A A - F#m - Bm - E7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Caug)

Formula: Augmented Triad (1 - 3 - ♯5)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1E 3G# ♯5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Caug:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 4
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 3
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 1
G#Degree ♯5
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 2
CDegree 1
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 3

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Middle finger. Play open: 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Root on string 5

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 3
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 1
G#Degree ♯5
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 1
CDegree 1
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

03

Fret 8

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Finger 4
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 6Finger 2
G#Degree ♯5
3rd String (G)
Fret 5Finger 1
CDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 5Finger 1
EDegree 3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger, 4th String (D) at fret 6 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 5 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 5 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Caug)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 3
Fretting fingers4
Open1st
Muted6th

What to check

The open 1st string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Caug

Listen: Caug → F · Em · C

  1. Caug
  2. F
  3. Caug
  4. Em
  5. Caug
  6. C
Caug → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 1
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
  • string 1, fret 1
Caug → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Caug → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Caug in every key

This chord type does not belong naturally to a major or minor scale: it is used as colour or passing tension.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
4

Caug on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Caug)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Caug chord?

To play the Caug chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Caug chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Caug chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Caug chord and what is its formula?

The Caug chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - ♯5 formula (Augmented Triad). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G#.

How do you prevent the Caug chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Caug chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Caug chord diagram

Caug guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2