Lesson 50 · All 12 keys

Major 7th♯5 Chord Trainer

Learn how a Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th) is built one semitone-count at a time — an augmented triad (Lesson 10) with a major 7th on top, instead of the minor 7th an augmented 7th chord (Lesson 23) uses — then put it to work with three MIDI exercises: playing all 12 major 7th♯5 chords around the circle of fourths, and 5 jazz plus 5 gospel chord progressions that show off its color, in every key.

How a Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th) is built

A Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th) — written maj7♯5 (e.g. Cmaj7♯5) — is a 4-note chord: an augmented triad (Lesson 10) with a major 7th on top, instead of the minor 7th an augmented 7th chord (Lesson 23) uses. Every maj7♯5 chord — in any of the 12 keys — is built the exact same way, by counting semitones to the right from a root note:

  1. The starting note — this note names the chord.
  2. Count 4 semitones up from the root — the major 3rd.
  3. Count 4 more semitones up from the 3rd (8 semitones from the root) — the augmented (raised) 5th, the same raised 5th an augmented triad (Lesson 10) uses.
  4. Count 3 more semitones up from the 5th (11 semitones from the root) — the major 7th.
Example — Cmaj7♯5: start on C, count 4 semitones right to reach E, count 4 semitones more to reach G♯, count 3 semitones more to reach B. C‑E‑G♯‑B is the Cmaj7♯5 chord.
Where an augmented 7th chord (Lesson 23) pairs the raised 5th with a ♭7th to pull hard toward a resolution, a major 7th♯5 chord pairs that same raised 5th with a major 7th instead — leaving the chord bright, floating, and unresolved rather than driving toward a tonic.

Try it: pick a root and build the chord step by step

Step 1 of 4
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Chord toneNoteSemitones from rootMIDI #

All 12 major 7th♯5 chords at a glance

ChordRootMajor 3rdAugmented 5thMajor 7th

This MIDI exercise plays all 12 major 7th♯5 chords, one after another, moving around the circle of fourths — each chord's root sits a perfect 4th (5 semitones) above the last one: C → F → B♭ → E♭ → A♭ → D♭ → G♭/F♯ → B → E → A → D → G → back to C. Every chord is played as a full 4-note Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th) (root, major 3rd, augmented 5th, major 7th together).

Chord 1 of 12
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The 12 chords, in circle-of-fourths order

#ChordRootMajor 3rdAugmented 5thMajor 7th

Five jazz chord progressions built around the Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th). Pick a progression and play it in one key or cycle through all 12.

Key of C
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Progression in C

DegreeChordNotes

Five gospel chord progressions built around the Major 7th♯5 chord (augmented major 7th). Pick a progression and play it in one key or cycle through all 12.

Key of C
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Progression in C

DegreeChordNotes