C Augmented 7th
Introduction
Notes
C Augmented 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | C4 – E4 – G#4 – Bb4 |
| 1st Inversion | E4 – G#4 – Bb4 – C5 |
| 2nd Inversion | G#4 – Bb4 – C5 – E5 |
| 3rd Inversion | C4 – E4 – G#4 – Bb3 |
Key Signature
The key of C Augmented 7th has No sharps or flats.
Theory: Intervals
The C Augmented 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-A5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-A5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
C Augmented 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the C Augmented 7th chord?
The C Augmented 7th chord (C+7 or C7#5) contains four notes: C (root), E (major third), G# (augmented fifth), and Bb (minor seventh). It combines an augmented triad with a minor seventh, creating a bright, tense chord with strong upward pull.
How does C Augmented 7th differ from C Dominant 7th?
Both contain C, E, and Bb. The difference is the fifth: C+7 has G# (augmented fifth) while C7 has G (perfect fifth). The raised fifth adds extra tension and an upward pull that the standard dominant 7th does not have.
How does C Augmented 7th differ from C Augmented?
C Augmented is a three-note triad (C, E, G#). C Augmented 7th adds Bb (minor seventh). The minor seventh adds bluesy tension on top of the augmented triad's floating quality, making it a more harmonically complex chord.
How is C Augmented 7th used in music?
C+7 is used as an altered dominant chord, typically resolving to F Major (the same target as C7). The augmented fifth creates even stronger voice leading: G# pulls up to A while Bb pulls down to A, converging on the third of F Major. It is common in jazz, gospel, and blues.
What songs use Augmented 7th chords?
Augmented 7th chords appear in jazz standards like All the Things You Are and in gospel music where altered dominant chords add emotional intensity. Blues guitarists and jazz pianists use +7 chords as colourful dominant substitutes.
What is the difference between augmented 7th and 7#5?
They are the same chord. C+7, C7#5, and Caug7 all refer to C Augmented 7th (C–E–G#–Bb). The different symbols appear in different notation traditions: +7 in jazz lead sheets, 7#5 in classical analysis, aug7 in educational contexts.
Practice Tips
- Play C7 then raise the G to G# — hear how the augmented fifth adds extra tension and upward pull on top of the dominant 7th sound.
- Practice the resolution: C+7 → F Major. Notice how G# resolves up to A and Bb resolves down to A — both voices converge on the same note.
- Compare C+7 with C7 — both resolve to F, but C+7 adds more tension and colour. Try alternating between them before resolving.
- C+7 is an altered dominant chord — in jazz, try substituting it for any C7 to add sophistication to a ii–V–I.
- Practice C+7 in a gospel context: the augmented dominant is a signature sound of gospel piano, especially before the tonic chord.
- Try the ascending chromatic line: C → C+ → C+7 → C7 (root stays, fifth rises, seventh drops) for a classic chromatic bass pattern.