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A♭ 7th sharp 5 chord on bass (A♭7♯5)
Also called or written A♭7♯5, A♭ or A♭ Dominant 7th ♯5
A♭ 7th sharp 5 contains A♭, C, E, and G♭. The default voicing at the 12th fret uses a wide four-finger stretch.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7
- Root positionA♭–C–E–G♭A♭7♯5no shape on this instrument
- First inversionC–E–G♭–A♭A♭7♯5/Cno shape on this instrument
- Second inversionE–G♭–A♭–CA♭7♯5/E12-11-10-11
- Third inversionG♭–A♭–C–EA♭7♯5/G♭2-3-2-1
How do you play an A♭ 7th sharp 5 chord on bass?
A♭ 7th sharp 5 is played at the 10th fret as 12 11 10 11: pinky finger on the E string at fret 12, middle finger on the A string at fret 11, index finger on the D string at fret 10 and ring finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 4 | E (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (3) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 3 | G♭ (♭7) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 12th fret on the E string while the index holds the 10th fret on the D string.
A♭7♯5/G♭ inversion · fret 1
A♭ 7th sharp 5 is played at the 1st fret as 2 3 2 1: middle finger on the E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 2 and index finger on the G string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 2 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 3 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
A♭7♯5/G♭ inversion · fret 13
A♭ 7th sharp 5 is played at the 13th fret as 14 15 14 13: middle finger on the E string at fret 14, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15, ring finger on the D string at fret 14 and index finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 14 | 2 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 4 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 3 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ 7th sharp 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7. The augmented 5th, E, gives the chord its bright, tense sound. Compare it to A♭ 7th, which has a perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with A♭ 7th sharp 5?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the A string.
- Pressing the index finger too flat and buzzing the D string.
- Striking the open E string instead of the 12th fret.
When to use it
A♭ 7th sharp 5 suits jazz, blues, and R&B lines that need a raised 5th. It pairs well with A♭ major and A♭ 7th.
Changing to and from A♭ 7th sharp 5
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives F♯ 7th sharp 5. Keep the finger spacing identical while shifting.
- Move to A♭ 7th by lowering the D string from the 10th fret to the 9th fret; the other fingers stay in place.
Which voicing to use
The E inversion puts the augmented 5th in the bass, creating a tense, unstable sound. The G♭ inversion has the ♭7 in the bass and is easier to reach at the 2nd fret. Choose the E inversion for a more dissonant line.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ 7th sharp 5 written?
A♭ 7th sharp 5 is written as A♭7♯5 or A♭7+5. The ASCII root is Ab, so you may see Ab7#5. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ 7th sharp 5 and A♭ augmented?
A♭ 7th sharp 5 adds a minor 7th, G♭, to the augmented triad A♭–C–E. A♭ augmented has only the root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th. The 7th makes the chord dominant and more dissonant.
Can A♭ 7th sharp 5 be used as a passing chord?
A♭ 7th sharp 5 works as a passing chord between A♭ 7th and A♭ 9th. Its raised 5th creates tension that resolves to the next chord. Use it briefly on a weak beat.