Tools / Chords / C augmented major 7th

C augmented major 7th chord on guitar (CaugMaj7)

Also written CaugMaj7, CaugM7 or C+M7

C augmented major 7th contains C, E, G♯, and B. The open B and high e strings ring against fretted notes on the A, D, and G strings, creating a wide stretch.

Open×-3-2-1-0-0

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

C1Root

E3Major 3rd

G♯♯5Augmented 5th

B7Major 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 positionC–E–G♯–BCaugMaj7Bass C

First inversionE–G♯–B–CCaugMaj7/EBass E

Second inversionG♯–B–C–ECaugMaj7/G♯Bass G♯

Third inversionB–C–E–G♯CaugMaj7/BBass B

Why it sounds like that

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

What goes wrong with C augmented major 7th?

Letting the low E string ring instead of muting it.
Fretting the A string with the pinky instead of the ring finger, causing the note to go sharp.
Allowing the middle finger to touch the G string, muting the 1st fret note.

When to use it

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

Sliding the shape down one fret to the 4th fret gives B augmented major 7th.
Sliding the shape up one fret to the 6th fret gives C♯ augmented major 7th.

Which voicing to use

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

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

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

Tip — The ring finger must reach the 3rd fret on the A string while the index finger holds the 1st fret on the G string, creating a wide stretch.

String-by-string breakdown

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

CaugM7/E inversion · 0-2-2-1-1-0

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

CaugM7/E inversion · 0-3-2-1-0-0

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

CaugM7/E inversion · ×-7-6-5-5-7

Barre

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

CaugM7/G♯ inversion

Intermediate

C augmented major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 2 4 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 4, middle finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4. The B and high e strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is C augmented major 7th written?

C augmented major 7th is written C+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or CaugM7.

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

C augmented major 7th adds the major 7th, B, to the C augmented triad C–E–G♯. The 7th creates a leading tone back to C major.

Why does the low E string get muted?

The low E string is muted to preserve the intended bass note C, not because it clashes. E is a chord tone, but playing it would change the voicing.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

G♯ (♯5)

2 (B)

open

—

B (7)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

B (7)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

G♯ (♯5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (3)

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

G♯ (♯5)

2 (B)

open

—

B (7)

1 (e)

open

—

E (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

E (3)

4 (D)

G♯ (♯5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

C (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

E (3)

1 (e)

B (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G♯ (♯5)

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

E (3)

3 (G)

B (7)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

muted

—