Explore chords · Ukulele
B 7th sharp 5 chord on ukulele (B7♯5)
Also called or written B7♯5, B or B Dominant 7th ♯5
B 7th sharp 5 contains B, D♯, F♯♯ and A. The default voicing at fret 12 sits at the body joint, where the stretch becomes even harder.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯♯–AB7♯512-11-11-12
- First inversionD♯–F♯♯–A–BB7♯5/D♯2-3-3-2
- Second inversionF♯♯–A–B–D♯B7♯5/F♯♯12-11-11-12
- Third inversionA–B–D♯–F♯♯B7♯5/A2-3-3-2
How do you play a B 7th sharp 5 chord on ukulele?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
AdvancedThe stretch between the index finger on fret 11 and the pinky on fret 12 across the outer strings is demanding at the body joint.
B7♯5/D♯ inversion
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
Why it sounds like that
B 7th sharp 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7. The augmented 5th between B and F♯♯ gives the chord its tense, unresolved quality. Compare it to B 7th, which has a perfect 5th instead.
What goes wrong with B 7th sharp 5?
- The pinky flattens and deadens the A string next to it.
- The ring finger on the G string leans into the C string, causing a buzz.
When to use it
B 7th sharp 5 works as a dominant chord in jazz and blues, often resolving to E major. It suits tense, chromatic passages and pairs with the B altered scale.
Changing to and from B 7th sharp 5
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives A 7th sharp 5.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 11th fret gives B♭ 7th sharp 5.
Which voicing to use
The B7♯5/F♯♯ inversion at fret 12 puts the augmented 5th in the bass, creating a strong pull to E. The B7♯5/A inversion at fret 2 is lower but less stable.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B 7th sharp 5 written?
B 7th sharp 5 is written as B7♯5 or B7+. The symbol B7♯5 is most common.
What is the difference between B 7th sharp 5 and B augmented?
B 7th sharp 5 adds a minor 7th to the augmented triad. B augmented contains only B, D♯ and F♯♯, while B 7th sharp 5 includes A.
Why does B 7th sharp 5 sound so tense?
The augmented 5th creates an unstable interval that wants to resolve. The minor 7th adds further dissonance, making the chord highly directional.