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A augmented major 7th chord on guitar (AaugMaj7)
Also called or written AaugMaj7, AaugM7, A+M7, AM7#5, Amaj+7, A augmented major seventh or A major seventh sharp five
A augmented major 7th contains A, C♯, E♯, and G♯. The open voicing stretches the pinky to the 3rd fret on the D string while the index and middle crowd the first fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
- Root positionA–C♯–E♯–G♯AaugMaj7×-0-3-1-2-1
- First inversionC♯–E♯–G♯–AAaugMaj7/C♯×-4-3-2-2-4
- Second inversionE♯–G♯–A–C♯AaugMaj7/E♯1-0-3-1-2-×
- Third inversionG♯–A–C♯–E♯AaugMaj7/G♯4-4-3-2-2-×
How do you play an A augmented major 7th chord on guitar?
A augmented major 7th is played in open position as × 0 3 1 2 1: pinky finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. 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 | 4 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | E♯ (♯5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 3rd fret on the D string while the index and middle fingers hold the first fret, creating a wide stretch.
AaugM7/C♯ inversion
A augmented major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as × 4 3 2 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 2 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
AaugM7/E♯ inversion · open position
A augmented major 7th is played in open position as 1 0 3 1 2 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 1 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The high e string stays muted.
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) | 1 | 2 | G♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
AaugM7/E♯ inversion · fret 2
A augmented major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as × × 3 2 2 4: 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 4. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
AaugM7/E♯ inversion · fret 11
A augmented major 7th is played at the 11th fret as 13 12 11 13 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 13, middle finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 13. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 3 | E♯ (♯5) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 2 | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
A augmented major 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7. The augmented 5th, E♯, is what separates it from the A major 7th, where the 5th is E natural. The major 3rd and major 7th remain unchanged.
What goes wrong with A augmented major 7th?
- Letting the low E string ring instead of muting it.
- Fretting the D string with the ring finger instead of the pinky, causing the note to go sharp.
- Allowing the index finger to touch the B string, muting the 2nd fret note.
When to use it
A augmented major 7th works as a substitute for A major 7th when the melody moves to the ♯5. It fits jazz ballads and passages that need a brighter, more restless major sound.
Changing to and from A augmented major 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives A♭ augmented major 7th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 4th fret gives B augmented major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps A in the bass and is easiest to reach. The C♯ inversion starting on the 4th fret puts the major 3rd in the bass and gives a tighter, higher register.
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 AaugM7.
What is the difference between A augmented major 7th and A augmented?
A augmented major 7th adds the major 7th, G♯, to the A augmented triad A–C♯–E♯. The 7th creates a leading tone back to A major.
Why does the open E string get muted?
The open E string is muted because E is not a chord tone in A augmented major 7th. Playing it would add an unintended 5th below the root.