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B♭ augmented chord (B♭aug)

B♭ augmented is a 3-note augmented chord: B♭ – D – F♯. It sounds mysterious and suspenseful. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio. Also called A♯ augmented (A♯aug).

  • NotesB♭ – D – F♯
  • Formula1 – 3 – ♯5
  • SymbolB♭aug · B♭+ · B♭♯5
  • EnharmonicA♯ augmented (A♯aug)

B♭ augmented on guitar

  • ××1423B♭F♯B♭D
    Fret 1 (A shape)
  • 6××1423B♭B♭DF♯
    Fret 6 (E shape)

How to place your fingers (fret 1)

  1. Finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 5th string (A).
  2. Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 4 of the 4th string (D).
  3. Place finger 2 (middle) at fret 3 on string 3 (G).
  4. Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B).
  5. Do not play the 6th and 1st strings: strum from the 5th string.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (B♭). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

B♭ augmented on piano

DB♭F♯

In root position, play B♭ – D – F♯ from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (B♭) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

  • First inversion: D – F♯ – B♭
  • Second inversion: F♯ – B♭ – D

B♭ augmented on ukulele

  • B♭DF♯B♭
    From fret 1
  • 3B♭F♯B♭D
    From fret 3

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of B♭ augmented

  • B♭1 · root
  • D3 · major third
  • F♯♯5 · augmented fifth

It appears as a passing chord (for example I → I augmented → vi) and in intros to ballads and boleros.

Progressions with B♭aug

Chromatic passing chord: I – I+ – IV

The fifth, raised a half step, pulls toward the fourth degree.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B-flat augmented chord?

B♭ augmented (B♭aug) has 3 notes: B♭ (root), D (major third), F♯ (augmented fifth).

How do you play B♭ augmented on guitar?

The most common shape starts at fret 1: x 1 4 3 3 x (from the 6th to the 1st string). Finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 5th string (A). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 4 of the 4th string (D). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 3 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B). Do not play the 6th or 1st strings: strum from the 5th.

Is B♭aug the same as A♯aug?

Yes: B♭ augmented and A♯ augmented sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the key of the song; you'll see both names in sheet music and songbooks.

How do you write B-flat augmented as a chord symbol?

It's written B♭aug; you may also see B♭+ or B♭♯5. Letter notation uses letters for note names: C, D, E, F, G, A and B correspond to Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La and Si.

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