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E♭ augmented major 7th chord on bass (E♭augMaj7)
Also called or written E♭augMaj7, E♭augM7, E♭+M7, E♭M7#5, E♭maj+7, E♭ augmented major seventh or E♭ major seventh sharp five
E♭ augmented major 7th is built from E♭, G, B and D. The default voicing requires a wide stretch and careful intonation on the high frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
How do you play an E♭ augmented major 7th chord on bass?
E♭ augmented major 7th is played at the 5th fret as 7 6 5 7: ring finger on the E string at fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 6, index finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 1 | G (3) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (7) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 7th fret on the 1st string while the index holds the 5th fret on the 2nd string, creating a wide stretch.
E♭augM7/D inversion
E♭ augmented major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 10 10 9 8: ring finger on the E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10, middle finger on the D string at fret 9 and index finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (7) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (3) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 2 | B (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ augmented major 7th is built as 1–3–♯5–7, with major thirds between E♭ and G, and G and B. The raised fifth B gives the chord its augmented tension, while the major seventh D adds brightness. Compare E♭ major 7th, which has a perfect fifth B♭.
What goes wrong with E♭ 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 G.
When to use it
E♭ augmented major 7th works as a passing chord between E♭ major and G major, or as a substitute for E♭ major 7th in jazz. Its bright, tense sound suits modern jazz and fusion.
Changing to and from E♭ augmented major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives C♯ augmented major 7th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 4th fret gives D augmented major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The B inversion places the augmented fifth in the bass, creating a restless, upward-pulling sound. The D inversion puts the major seventh in the bass, which darkens the chord and works well for descending bass lines.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ augmented major 7th written?
E♭ augmented major 7th is written E♭+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or E♭augM7. The ASCII root is Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ augmented major 7th and E♭ major 7th?
E♭ augmented major 7th has a raised fifth B, while E♭ major 7th has a perfect fifth B♭. The raised fifth creates a more dissonant, unstable sound.
Why does E♭ augmented major 7th sound unstable?
The augmented fifth B creates a symmetrical division of the octave, leaving no clear tonal centre. The major seventh D adds further tension, making the chord want to resolve.