How to Play Abmaj7(#5) Chord on Guitar | Ab Major Seventh Sharp Fifth

The Ab major seventh sharp five chord is usually written Abmaj7#5 and uses the notes Ab, C, E and G. With a major seventh it does not carry the pull of a dominant seventh chord, and the colour is floating rather than tense.

A scale that covers every chord tone is the Ab Lydian augmented scale, which is where to start when you improvise. The major seventh lies a half step below the octave of the root, a close and slightly sharp-edged interval. In the symbol, maj7 sets the seventh and #5 alters the fifth.

Chords at this level are gathered in intermediate guitar chords.

Ab major 7th with sharp 5th guitar chord is also written as Abmaj7(#5), Abmaj7#5, AbM7(#5) or AbΔ7(#5).

Notes in the Ab maj7(#5) chord:

Ab C E G

Formula of the Major Seventh Sharp Fifth chord:

Formula: 1 3 #5 7

Ab Maj7(#5) Chord Interactive Fretboard

Want a structured chord roadmap instead of jumping between pages?
Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.

download this tutorial in pdf Download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Play This Chord With Other Roots

Want to Learn Everything About Chords?

Check Chords Domination out: a unique ebook that shows you finger positions, note names and intervals in the chords (plus a tones fretboard maps)

You'll learn how to play 44 chords types across all the fretboard, with many voicings and fingerings

In the ebook you can also find maps show you the tones in a chord all along the fretboard. They are incredibly helpful because allow you to:

Create new voicings on the fly, across all the neck
Improvise targeting the right notes
Unlock the fretboard and expand the CAGED system.

In the new ebook, Chords Domination, you'll find the fretboard tones maps for 44 different qualities of chords. Check it out:

Download Free Excerpt Learn More Here

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What notes are in Abmaj7#5?

Abmaj7#5 is spelled Ab, C, E and G. That is a root, a major third, a raised fifth and a major seventh. No double accidentals are needed.

What does the maj7 and the #5 mean in Ab major seventh sharp five?

The maj7 says the seventh is a major seventh, G, one semitone short of the octave Ab. The #5 says the fifth is raised, so E replaces Eb.

Is Abmaj7#5 the same as G#maj7#5?

They share the same pitches. G#maj7#5 is spelled G#, B#, D## and F##, which is awkward. Abmaj7#5 is the cleaner spelling.

Which scale suits Ab major seventh sharp five?

The Ab Lydian Augmented Scale (Ab, Bb, C, D, E, F, G) contains all four chord notes. It is a good source of melody notes.