Also written E7♯5, E or E Dominant 7th ♯5
E 7th sharp 5 contains E, G♯, B♯, and D. The open E string gives this voicing a ringing, resonant quality.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E 7th sharp 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7. The augmented 5th (B♯) gives the chord its tense, altered-dominant quality. Compare with E 7th, which has a perfect 5th instead of the raised 5th.
E 7th sharp 5 functions as a dominant chord in E major progressions, often resolving to E major or E 7th. Its altered sound suits jazz, blues, and funk when you need extra tension before a resolution.
The E7♯5/D inversion at the 1st fret places D in the bass, giving a dark, leading-tone quality. For a brighter sound, use the 4th fret voicing, which puts E in the bass.
E 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as 1 2 0 3: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the C string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3. The E string rings open.
Tip — The hardest part is fretting the A string at the 3rd fret while keeping the E string open and ringing.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | B♯ (♯5) |
E 7th sharp 5 is played at the 4th fret as 5 4 4 5: ring finger on the G string at fret 5, index finger on the C string at fret 4, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 3 | B♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (♭7) |
E 7th sharp 5 is played at the 7th fret as 7 8 8 7: index finger on the G string at fret 7, ring finger on the C string at fret 8, pinky finger on the E string at fret 8 and middle finger on the A string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 4 | B♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (1) |
E 7th sharp 5 is played in open position as 7 0 4 7: middle finger on the G string at fret 7, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 7. The C string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | B♯ (♯5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (1) |
E 7th sharp 5 is written as E7♯5 or E7+5. The symbol E7♯5 is the most common, and the chord is also called E dominant 7th sharp 5.
E augmented is a triad with notes E, G♯, and B♯. E 7th sharp 5 adds the minor 7th (D) to that triad, creating a four-note dominant chord.
The augmented 5th (B♯) creates an unstable interval with the root, and the tritone between G♯ and D adds further dissonance. This tension makes the chord want to resolve.