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F♯ augmented major 7th chord on bass (F♯augMaj7)
Also called or written F♯augMaj7, F♯augM7, F♯+M7, F♯M7#5, F♯maj+7, F♯ augmented major seventh or F♯ major seventh sharp five
F♯ augmented major 7th is built from F♯, A♯, C♯♯ and E♯. The default voicing requires a wide stretch and careful intonation on the high frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
- Root positionF♯–A♯–C♯♯–E♯F♯augMaj7no shape on this instrument
- First inversionA♯–C♯♯–E♯–F♯F♯augMaj7/A♯no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC♯♯–E♯–F♯–A♯F♯augMaj7/C♯♯10-9-8-10
- Third inversionE♯–F♯–A♯–C♯♯F♯augMaj7/E♯13-13-12-11
How do you play an F♯ augmented major 7th chord on bass?
F♯ augmented major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 10 9 8 10: ring finger on the E string at fret 10, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 3 | C♯♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | E♯ (7) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 10th fret on the 1st string while the index holds the 8th fret on the 2nd string, creating a wide stretch.
F♯augM7/E♯ inversion
F♯ augmented major 7th is played at the 11th fret as 13 13 12 11: ring finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, middle finger on the D string at fret 12 and index finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 3 | E♯ (7) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 2 | C♯♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ augmented major 7th is built as 1–3–♯5–7, with major thirds between F♯ and A♯, and A♯ and C♯♯. The double-sharped fifth C♯♯ (enharmonically D) gives the chord its augmented colour, while the major seventh E♯ adds brightness. Compare F♯ major 7th, which has a perfect fifth C♯.
What goes wrong with F♯ 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 A♯.
When to use it
F♯ augmented major 7th works as a passing chord between F♯ major and B♭ major, or as a substitute for F♯ major 7th in jazz. Its bright, tense sound suits modern jazz and fusion.
Changing to and from F♯ augmented major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 6th fret gives E augmented major 7th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 7th fret gives F augmented major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The C♯♯ inversion places the augmented fifth in the bass, creating a restless, upward-pulling sound. The E♯ inversion puts the major seventh in the bass, which darkens the chord and works well for descending bass lines.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ augmented major 7th written?
F♯ augmented major 7th is written F♯+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or F♯augM7. The ASCII root is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ augmented major 7th and F♯ major 7th?
F♯ augmented major 7th has a raised fifth C♯♯, while F♯ major 7th has a perfect fifth C♯. The raised fifth creates a more dissonant, unstable sound.
Why does F♯ augmented major 7th use a double sharp?
The fifth of F♯ is C♯, so raising it a semitone gives C♯♯, which is enharmonically D. The double sharp keeps the interval name consistent with the scale degree.