Tools / Chords / B augmented major 7th

B augmented major 7th chord on guitar (BaugMaj7)

Also written BaugMaj7, BaugM7 or B+M7

B augmented major 7th contains B, D♯, F♯♯, and A♯. The open B string rings between fretted notes on the G and high e strings, creating a wide stretch.

Open×-2-1-3-0-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B1Root

D♯3Major 3rd

F♯♯♯5Augmented 5th

A♯7Major 7th

Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionB–D♯–F♯♯–A♯BaugMaj7Bass B

First inversionD♯–F♯♯–A♯–BBaugMaj7/D♯Bass D♯

Second inversionF♯♯–A♯–B–D♯BaugMaj7/F♯♯Bass F♯♯

Third inversionA♯–B–D♯–F♯♯BaugMaj7/A♯Bass A♯

Why it sounds like that

B augmented major 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7. The augmented 5th, F♯♯, is what separates it from the B major 7th, where the 5th is F♯. The major 3rd and major 7th remain unchanged.

What goes wrong with B augmented major 7th?

Letting the low E string ring instead of muting it.
Fretting the high e string with the ring finger instead of the pinky, causing the note to go flat.
Allowing the ring finger to touch the B string, muting the open string.

When to use it

B augmented major 7th works as a substitute for B 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 B augmented major 7th

Sliding the shape down two frets to the 2nd fret gives A augmented major 7th.
Sliding the shape up one fret to the 4th fret gives C augmented major 7th.

Which voicing to use

The open voicing keeps B in the bass and is easiest to reach. The D♯ inversion starting on the 1st fret puts the major 3rd in the bass and gives a tighter, higher register.

How do you play a B augmented major 7th chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

B augmented major 7th is played in open position as × 2 1 3 0 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1, ring finger on the G string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The B string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The pinky must reach the 3rd fret on the high e string while the index finger holds the 1st fret on the D string, creating a wide stretch.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	2	2	B (1)
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	3	3	A♯ (7)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	3	4	F♯♯ (♯5)

BaugM7/D♯ inversion · open position

Beginner

B augmented major 7th is played in open position as × × 1 3 0 3: index finger on the D string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The B string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	3	2	A♯ (7)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	3	3	F♯♯ (♯5)

BaugM7/D♯ inversion · fret 4

Barre

B augmented major 7th is played at the 4th fret as × 6 5 4 4 6: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 6, middle finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	6	3	D♯ (3)
4 (D)	5	2	F♯♯ (♯5)
3 (G)	4	1 (barre)	B (1)
2 (B)	4	1 (barre)	D♯ (3)
1 (e)	6	4	A♯ (7)

BaugM7/F♯♯ inversion · F♯♯ on top

Beginner

B augmented major 7th is played in open position as 3 1 1 0 0 3: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The G and B strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	3	F♯♯ (♯5)
5 (A)	1	1	A♯ (7)
4 (D)	1	2	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	open	—	F♯♯ (♯5)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	3	4	F♯♯ (♯5)

BaugM7/F♯♯ inversion · B on top

Beginner

B augmented major 7th is played in open position as 3 1 1 3 0 ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3. The B string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	3	F♯♯ (♯5)
5 (A)	1	1	A♯ (7)
4 (D)	1	2	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	3	4	A♯ (7)
2 (B)	open	—	B (1)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

Common questions

How is B augmented major 7th written?

B augmented major 7th is written B+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or BaugM7.

What is the difference between B augmented major 7th and B augmented?

B augmented major 7th adds the major 7th, A♯, to the B augmented triad B–D♯–F♯♯. The 7th creates a leading tone back to B major.

Why does the open E string get muted?

The open E string is muted because E is not a chord tone in B augmented major 7th. Playing it would add an unintended 5th below the root.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

B (1)

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

A♯ (7)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

F♯♯ (♯5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

A♯ (7)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

F♯♯ (♯5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

D♯ (3)

4 (D)

F♯♯ (♯5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D♯ (3)

1 (e)

A♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯♯ (♯5)

5 (A)

A♯ (7)

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

open

—

F♯♯ (♯5)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

F♯♯ (♯5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯♯ (♯5)

5 (A)

A♯ (7)

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

A♯ (7)

2 (B)

open

—

B (1)

1 (e)

muted

—