Also written B7♯5, B or B Dominant 7th ♯5
B 7th sharp 5 contains B, D♯, F♯♯, and A. The default voicing requires a wide stretch across the first four frets.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B 7th sharp 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7. The augmented 5th (F♯♯) gives the chord its distinctive tension. Compare with B 7th, which uses a perfect 5th (F♯) instead.
B 7th sharp 5 functions as a dominant chord in B major progressions, often resolving to B major or B 7th. Its altered sound suits jazz, blues, and funk when you need extra tension before a resolution.
The B7♯5/D♯ inversion at the 2nd fret places D♯ in the bass, giving a compact, bright sound. For a root-position voicing, use the 11th fret shape, which puts B in the bass.
B 7th sharp 5 is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 3 2: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, pinky finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 2.
Tip — The hardest part is the stretch between the 2nd and 3rd frets while keeping all four strings clean.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 4 | F♯♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (1) |
B 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as 4 3 3 0: ring finger on the G string at fret 4, index finger on the C string at fret 3 and middle finger on the E string at fret 3. The A string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | F♯♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (♭7) |
B 7th sharp 5 is played at the 4th fret as 4 7 5 6: index finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | F♯♯ (♯5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
B 7th sharp 5 is played at the 11th fret as 12 11 11 12: ring finger on the G string at fret 12, index finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 3 | F♯♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 1 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (♭7) |
B 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as 0 3 5 2: middle finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and index finger on the A string at fret 2. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | F♯♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (1) |
B 7th sharp 5 is written as B7♯5 or B7+5. The symbol B7♯5 is the most common, and the chord is also called B dominant 7th sharp 5.
B augmented is a triad with notes B, D♯, and F♯♯. B 7th sharp 5 adds the minor 7th (A) to that triad, creating a four-note dominant chord.
The augmented 5th (F♯♯) creates an unstable interval with the root, and the tritone between D♯ and A adds further dissonance. This tension makes the chord want to resolve.