What notes are in an E♭ augmented chord?

E♭ augmented contains three notes: E♭ (the root), G (the major third), and B (the augmented fifth).

Is E♭ augmented the same as G augmented?

Enharmonically yes — same three pitches, different roots. E♭+, G+, and B+ all share E♭, G, and B in pitch.

How is E♭+ different from E♭ major?

Only the fifth changes. E♭ major has B♭ as the fifth; E♭+ raises that fifth to B natural. The half-step shift creates the augmented colour.

Where does E♭ augmented appear in music?

In C minor harmonic-minor cadences (as III+), in chromatic-mediant motion in flat keys, and in late-Romantic harmony as a colour chord. Mahler's symphonies use augmented triads constantly.

Eb augmented chord — notes, intervals, and practice

E♭ augmented — E♭, G, B — stacks two major thirds. Like all augmented triads, E♭+ is symmetric and shares its three pitches with G+ and B+ in different inversions. The chord most often appears as III+ of C harmonic minor or as a chromatic colour in flat-side keys.

Intervals

The Eb augmented chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

Eb→Gmajor 3rd4 semitones
G→Bmajor 3rd4 semitones
Eb→Baugmented 5th8 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the Eb augmented chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the Eb augmented chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

E♭+ has E♭ and G as the lower notes (the same as E♭ major), but the fifth is B natural — not B♭. Replacing B with B♭ makes an E♭ major chord. The chord's mix of one flat and two naturals (B is the natural here) is unusual in flat-key contexts and visually distinctive.

In context

E♭+ functions as III+ of C harmonic minor — the III chord raised by the harmonic-minor leading-tone (B instead of B♭). The progression Cm → E♭+ → A♭ (i → III+ → VI) is a common Romantic-era turn. Mahler used augmented sonorities like this constantly.

Drill it

The Eb augmented chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

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Frequently asked

What notes are in an E♭ augmented chord?: E♭ augmented contains three notes: E♭ (the root), G (the major third), and B (the augmented fifth).
Is E♭ augmented the same as G augmented?: Enharmonically yes — same three pitches, different roots. E♭+, G+, and B+ all share E♭, G, and B in pitch.
How is E♭+ different from E♭ major?: Only the fifth changes. E♭ major has B♭ as the fifth; E♭+ raises that fifth to B natural. The half-step shift creates the augmented colour.
Where does E♭ augmented appear in music?: In C minor harmonic-minor cadences (as III+), in chromatic-mediant motion in flat keys, and in late-Romantic harmony as a colour chord. Mahler's symphonies use augmented triads constantly.