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C augmented major 7th chord on guitar (CaugMaj7)
Also called or written CaugMaj7, CaugM7, C+M7, CM7#5, Cmaj+7, C augmented major seventh or C major seventh sharp five
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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
- Root positionC–E–G♯–BCaugMaj7×-3-2-1-0-0
- First inversionE–G♯–B–CCaugMaj7/E0-2-2-1-1-0
- Second inversionG♯–B–C–ECaugMaj7/G♯4-3-2-4-×-×
- Third inversionB–C–E–G♯CaugMaj7/B×-2-2-1-1-0
How do you play a C augmented major 7th chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
AdvancedThe 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.
CaugM7/E inversion · 0-2-2-1-1-0
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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 | — | — |
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.
Other C chords
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.