Explore chords · Guitar
A 7th sharp 5 chord on guitar (A7♯5)
Also called or written A7♯5, A or A Dominant 7th ♯5
A 7th sharp 5 contains A, C♯, E♯, and G. The open voicing skips the low E and spreads the augmented fifth across three strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7
- Root positionA–C♯–E♯–GA7♯5×-0-3-0-2-1
- First inversionC♯–E♯–G–AA7♯5/C♯×-4-3-2-2-3
- Second inversionE♯–G–A–C♯A7♯5/E♯1-0-3-0-2-1
- Third inversionG–A–C♯–E♯A7♯5/G3-0-3-0-2-1
How do you play an A 7th sharp 5 chord on guitar?
A 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as × 0 3 0 2 1: ring finger on the D string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and index finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 1 | E♯ (♯5) |
AdvancedThe open voicing demands a clean thumb mute on the low E while the other fingers hold fretted notes.
Open · ×-0-3-0-2-3
A 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as × 0 3 0 2 3: middle finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 2 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (♭7) |
Open · ×-0-3-2-2-3
A 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as × 0 3 2 2 3: ring finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (♭7) |
A7♯5/C♯ inversion
A 7th sharp 5 is played at the 2nd fret as × 4 3 2 2 3: barre your index finger across fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 2 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (♭7) |
A7♯5/E♯ inversion
A 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as 1 0 3 0 2 1: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3, ring finger on the B string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 4 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | E♯ (♯5) |
Why it sounds like that
A 7th sharp 5 is built from root, major 3rd, augmented 5th, and minor 7th. The augmented 5th E♯ gives the chord its tense colour, and the tritone between C♯ and G drives it toward resolution. Compare it to A 7th, which has a perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with A 7th sharp 5?
- Let the low E ring open; it is not a chord tone and will muddy the bass.
- Press the ring finger flat on the D string so it deadens the open G string.
- Lift the index finger off the high e and lose the minor 7th G.
When to use it
A 7th sharp 5 works as a dominant in A major progressions, often resolving to A major or A 5th. Its bright, tense sound suits jazz, blues, and funk lines.
Changing to and from A 7th sharp 5
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 1st fret for A♭ 7th sharp 5.
- Move to <a href="/guitar/a-7-chord">A 7th</a> by lowering E♯ to E on the D string.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps A in the bass and is the easiest to grab. The A7♯5/C♯ inversion puts the major 3rd in the bass for a smoother voice-leading, while the A7♯5/E♯ inversion highlights the augmented 5th.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A 7th sharp 5 written?
A 7th sharp 5 is written as A7♯5 or A7+5. It is also called A dominant 7th sharp 5.
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 no 7th and is spelled A–C♯–E♯.
Can A 7th sharp 5 be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the A7♯5/C♯ inversion uses a barre at the 2nd fret. The open voicing avoids barres but requires muting the low E.