A augmented seventh

A7(♯5)

Also written A+7 · A7+ · Aaug7 · A7(♭13) without the 5th · A7#5

NotesA · C♯ · E♯ · G
Formula1 · 3 · ♯5 · ♭7

E♯ is the key you know as F.

A1E♯♯5G♭7C♯3
Root position

The augmented 7th: a dominant with its 5th raised to E♯, which leans up into the 3rd of D. The same four notes are also written A7(♭13) — see A7(♭13) for the version that keeps the 5th.

How pianists voice A7(♯5)

Nobody plays a jazz chord in root position. These are the shapes that actually get played — the same ones Cadenza shows when you play the chord.

Shell Left hand

A1G♭7C♯3

1 · 3 · ♭7 — root, 3rd and 7th: the three notes that say what the chord is. Left hand, low; everything else is colour.

Rootless A From the 3rd

E♯♯5G♭7B9C♯3

3 · ♯5 · ♭7 · 9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano.

Rootless B From the 7th

G♭7B9E♯♯5C♯3

♭7 · 9 · 3 · ♯5 — the other half of the pair. A and B alternate through a ii–V–I so the hand barely moves.

Drop 2 Two hands

E♯♯5A1G♭7C♯3

♯5 · 1 · 3 · ♭7 — close position with the second voice from the top dropped an octave: wider, warmer, the standard for chord melody.

A7(♯5) inversions

The same 4 notes with a different one in the bass. Each inversion is written as a slash chord.

Root position A7(♯5)

A1E♯♯5G♭7C♯3

Root at the bottom, stacked in 3rds: 1 · 3 · ♯5 · ♭7.

1st inversion A7(♯5)/C♯

E♯♯5G♭7A1C♯3

C♯ (the 3) in the bass: 3 · ♯5 · ♭7 · 1.

2nd inversion A7(♯5)/E♯

E♯♯5G♭7A1C♯3

E♯ (the ♯5) in the bass: ♯5 · ♭7 · 1 · 3.

3rd inversion A7(♯5)/G

G♭7A1E♯♯5C♯3

G (the ♭7) in the bass: ♭7 · 1 · 3 · ♯5.

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