A Major Seventh Sharp Fifth Guitar Chord Charts & Variations
Welcome to this tutorial on the A maj7(#5) chord. This chord is a part of the Augmented Chords family and is composed of the notes A, C#, E#, and G#. The intervals that build this chord are 1, 3, #5, and 7, also known as the Root, Major Third, Augmented Fifth, and Major Seventh respectively.
Understanding how to build chords like the A maj7(#5) requires a solid grasp of music intervals. If you need a refresher, you might find this tutorial about fretboard intervals helpful.
Our tutorial will provide you with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns that clearly show the tones composing the A maj7(#5) chord. This will make it easier for you to visualize and play this chord on your guitar. However, if you're not familiar with chord notation, you might want to check out this tutorial on how to denote chords depending on the intervals that compose them.
The A maj7(#5) chord is a bit more advanced than what beginners might be used to, but don't let that intimidate you. With practice, you can master this chord and add it to your repertoire. If you're interested in learning more advanced chords, you might want to explore this tutorial about chords more advanced than beginners.
Remember, the key to mastering any new chord is practice. So, grab your guitar and let's dive into the world of the A maj7(#5) chord!
Notes of the A maj7(#5) chord:
Chord structure of the Major Seventh Sharp Fifth chord:
How To Play The Amaj7(#5) chord on guitar
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C maj7(#5) | D maj7(#5) | E maj7(#5) | F maj7(#5) | G maj7(#5) | A maj7(#5) | B maj7(#5) | C#maj7(#5) | D#maj7(#5) | F#maj7(#5) | G#maj7(#5) | A#maj7(#5) | Abmaj7(#5) | Bbmaj7(#5) | Dbmaj7(#5) | Ebmaj7(#5) | Gbmaj7(#5)
FAQ
What does the '#5' indicate in the A maj7(#5) chord name?
The '#5' in A maj7(#5) signifies an 'Augmented Fifth' interval. This means the fifth note of the chord is raised by a half-step from its natural perfect fifth position. For A maj7(#5), the natural fifth is E, so the augmented fifth becomes E#.
Why is E# used as a note in A maj7(#5) instead of F?
Music theory dictates that chords are built on specific scale degrees. E is the fifth degree of the A major scale. To create an augmented fifth interval, the natural fifth (E) is raised a half-step, resulting in E#. Although E# sounds enharmonically like F, using E# correctly reflects its theoretical function as a modified fifth within the chord's structure.
How does the A maj7(#5) chord differ from a standard A major 7th (Amaj7) chord?
Both the A maj7(#5) and Amaj7 chords share the Root (A), Major Third (C#), and Major Seventh (G#). The crucial difference lies in the fifth interval: a standard Amaj7 chord uses a Perfect Fifth (E), while the A maj7(#5) chord features an Augmented Fifth (E#). This altered fifth creates a distinct, more complex, and often 'dissonant' sound.
When might a guitarist typically use an A maj7(#5) chord in music?
The A maj7(#5) chord possesses a unique, somewhat tension-filled and ethereal quality due to its augmented fifth. It is commonly utilized in genres like jazz, fusion, and contemporary classical music to create sophisticated harmonic textures, add tension before a resolution, or provide specific coloristic voicings within a progression.
What does it mean for A maj7(#5) to be a member of the 'Augmented Chords family' if it also has a major seventh?
A chord is classified into the 'Augmented Chords family' primarily because of the presence of an augmented fifth interval. In the A maj7(#5) chord, the E# (augmented fifth) is the defining characteristic for this classification, regardless of whether it also contains a major seventh. The augmented fifth creates the distinctive 'augmented' quality that groups it with other augmented chords.