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A♭ augmented major 7th chord on bass (A♭augMaj7)
Also called or written A♭augMaj7, A♭augM7, A♭+M7, A♭M7#5, A♭maj+7, A♭ augmented major seventh or A♭ major seventh sharp five
A♭ augmented major 7th is built from A♭, C, E and G. The default voicing requires a wide stretch and careful intonation on the high frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
- Root positionA♭–C–E–GA♭augMaj7no shape on this instrument
- First inversionC–E–G–A♭A♭augMaj7/Cno shape on this instrument
- Second inversionE–G–A♭–CA♭augMaj7/E12-11-10-12
- Third inversionG–A♭–C–EA♭augMaj7/G3-3-2-1
How do you play an A♭ augmented major 7th chord on bass?
A♭ augmented major 7th is played at the 10th fret as 12 11 10 12: ring 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 pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 3 | E (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (3) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (7) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 12th fret on the 1st string while the index holds the 10th fret on the 2nd string, creating a wide stretch.
A♭augM7/G inversion · fret 1
A♭ augmented major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 2 1: ring finger on the E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, middle 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) | 3 | 3 | G (7) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
A♭augM7/G inversion · fret 13
A♭ augmented major 7th is played at the 13th fret as 15 15 14 13: ring finger on the E string at fret 15, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15, middle 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) | 15 | 3 | G (7) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 4 | C (3) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 2 | E (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ augmented major 7th is built as 1–3–♯5–7, with major thirds between A♭ and C, and C and E. The raised fifth E gives the chord its augmented tension, while the major seventh G adds brightness. Compare A♭ major 7th, which has a perfect fifth E♭.
What goes wrong with A♭ augmented major 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the 1st string, causing a buzz.
- Allowing the index finger to touch the 3rd string, deadening the C.
When to use it
A♭ augmented major 7th works as a passing chord between A♭ major and C major, or as a substitute for A♭ major 7th in jazz. Its bright, tense sound suits modern jazz and fusion.
Changing to and from A♭ augmented major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives F♯ augmented major 7th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives G augmented major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The E inversion places the augmented fifth in the bass, creating a restless, upward-pulling sound. The G inversion puts the major seventh in the bass, which darkens the chord and works well for descending bass lines.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ augmented major 7th written?
A♭ augmented major 7th is written A♭+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or A♭augM7. The ASCII root is Ab. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭ augmented major 7th and A♭ major 7th?
A♭ augmented major 7th has a raised fifth E, while A♭ major 7th has a perfect fifth E♭. The raised fifth creates a more dissonant, unstable sound.
Why does A♭ augmented major 7th sound unstable?
The augmented fifth E creates a symmetrical division of the octave, leaving no clear tonal centre. The major seventh G adds further tension, making the chord want to resolve.