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Chord · Reference entry

B Augmented 7th

Augmented 7th · B – D♯ – F♯♯ – A · intervals P1-M3-A5-m7

The B Augmented 7th chord (Baug7) contains the notes B, D♯, F♯♯, and A. Its interval formula is R-M3-A5-m7. A major triad with raised 5th and flat 7th — bright, unstable, often resolves to a minor I chord.

At the keyboard

B · D# · F## · A
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on B Augmented 7th
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B+7

The B Augmented 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of B, D♯, F♯♯, and A. It is built from a root, major third, augmented fifth, and minor seventh.

Construction

B Augmented 7th = Root + Major 3rd + Minor 6th + Minor 7th = B · D♯ · F♯♯ · A
NoteIntervalDegree
BRoot1
D♯Major 3rd3
F♯♯Minor 6th♯5
AMinor 7th♭7

B Augmented 7th Inversions

B Augmented 7th piano chord, 1st inversion — D♯, Fx, A, B
The B Augmented 7th chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
B Augmented 7th piano chord, 2nd inversion — Fx, A, B, D♯
The B Augmented 7th chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
B Augmented 7th piano chord, 3rd inversion — A, B, D♯, Fx
The B Augmented 7th chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionB – D♯ – F♯♯ – A
1st InversionD♯ – F♯♯ – A – B
2nd InversionF♯♯ – A – B – D♯
3rd InversionA – B – D♯ – F♯♯

Key Signature

A Augmented 7th chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn’t belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes B – D♯ – F♯♯ – A aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

B Augmented 7th — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the B Augmented 7th chord on piano?
The B Augmented 7th chord contains the notes B – D♯ – F♯♯ – A. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the B Augmented 7th chord?
The B Augmented 7th chord (B+7) contains four notes: B (root), D# (major third), F## (augmented fifth, enharmonically G), and A (minor seventh). It combines an augmented triad with a minor seventh.
How does B Augmented 7th differ from B Dominant 7th?
Both contain B, D#, and A. B+7 has F##/G (augmented fifth) while B7 has F# (perfect fifth). The raised fifth adds extra chromatic tension.
How is B Augmented 7th used in music?
B+7 is an altered dominant resolving to E Major. The F##/G pulls up to G# while A pulls down to G# — converging on the third of E. Common in jazz and blues in the key of E.
What genres use Augmented 7th chords?
Augmented 7th chords are common in jazz, gospel, blues, and R&B for adding emotional intensity to dominant resolutions.
What songs use Augmented 7th chords?
Augmented 7th chords appear in jazz standards and blues. B+7 resolves to E Major, a very common key in blues and rock.
What is the difference between +7 and 7#5?
They are the same chord. B+7, B7#5, and Baug7 all refer to B Augmented 7th.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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