C augmented major seventh

Cmaj7(♯5)

Also written C+Δ7 · CΔ7(♯5) · Cmaj7+ · Cmaj7#5

NotesC · E · G♯ · B
Formula1 · 3 · ♯5 · 7
C1E3B7G♯♯5
Root position

A major 7th with a raised 5th — the III+ chord of A melodic minor. Its top three notes are an E major triad, so Cmaj7(♯5) is also written E/C.

How pianists voice Cmaj7(♯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

C1E3B7

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

E3B7D9G♯♯5

3 · ♯5 · 7 · 9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano. Without C underneath, the same keys read as E7 — the bass turns them into Cmaj7(♯5).

Rootless B From the 7th

B7D9E3G♯♯5

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

C1E3B7G♯♯5

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

Cmaj7(♯5) inversions

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

Root position Cmaj7(♯5)

C1E3B7G♯♯5

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

1st inversion Cmaj7(♯5)/E

E3B7C1G♯♯5

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

2nd inversion Cmaj7(♯5)/G♯

B7C1E3G♯♯5

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

3rd inversion Cmaj7(♯5)/B

B7C1E3G♯♯5

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

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