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D augmented major 7th chord on guitar (DaugMaj7)
Also called or written DaugMaj7, DaugM7, D+M7, DM7#5, Dmaj+7, D augmented major seventh or D major seventh sharp five
D augmented major 7th contains D, F♯, A♯, and C♯. The open D string rings between muted strings on the A and low E, creating a wide stretch.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7
- Root positionD–F♯–A♯–C♯DaugMaj7×-×-0-3-2-2
- First inversionF♯–A♯–C♯–DDaugMaj7/F♯2-1-0-3-2-×
- Second inversionA♯–C♯–D–F♯DaugMaj7/A♯×-1-0-3-2-2
- Third inversionC♯–D–F♯–A♯DaugMaj7/C♯×-4-4-3-3-×
How do you play a D augmented major 7th chord on guitar?
D augmented major 7th is played in open position as × × 0 3 2 2: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D string rings open. 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) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 | C♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe ring finger must reach the 3rd fret on the G string while the index finger holds the 2nd fret on the B string, creating a wide stretch.
DaugM7/F♯ inversion · open position
D augmented major 7th is played in open position as 2 1 0 3 2 ×: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, index finger on the A string at fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2. The D string rings open. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
DaugM7/F♯ inversion · fret 7
D augmented major 7th is played at the 7th fret as × 9 8 7 7 9: barre your index finger across fret 7, ring finger on the A string at fret 9, middle finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 2 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (7) |
DaugM7/A♯ inversion · open position
D augmented major 7th is played in open position as × 1 0 3 2 2: index finger on the A string at fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (3) |
DaugM7/A♯ inversion · fret 4
D augmented major 7th is played at the 4th fret as 6 5 4 6 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 6, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, index finger on the D string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 3 | A♯ (♯5) |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 | F♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
D augmented major 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, 7. The augmented 5th, A♯, is what separates it from the D major 7th, where the 5th is A natural. The major 3rd and major 7th remain unchanged.
What goes wrong with D augmented major 7th?
- Letting the low E string ring instead of muting it.
- Letting the A string ring instead of muting it.
- Fretting the G string with the pinky instead of the ring finger, causing the note to go sharp.
When to use it
D augmented major 7th works as a substitute for D 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 D augmented major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 5th fret gives C augmented major 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 8th fret gives E♭ augmented major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps D in the bass and is easiest to reach. The F♯ inversion starting on the 1st fret puts the major 3rd in the bass and gives a tighter, higher register.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D augmented major 7th written?
D augmented major 7th is written D+M7, M7#5, maj+7, or DaugM7.
What is the difference between D augmented major 7th and D augmented?
D augmented major 7th adds the major 7th, C♯, to the D augmented triad D–F♯–A♯. The 7th creates a leading tone back to D major.
Why does the A string get muted?
The A string is muted because A is not a chord tone in D augmented major 7th. Playing it would add an unintended 5th below the root.