The A aug7 Chord Explained
A augmented seventh is an Augmented chord built from the notes A, C♯, E♯, and G. Its root is A, and its interval formula is 1–3–♯5–♭7. That means the chord contains the interval names root, major third, augmented fifth, and minor seventh. You may also see it written as A+7, A7♯5, or plain-text spelled A augmented dominant seventh. If you look at the widget above, you can see and hear how these four notes combine, and learning about chord intervals can make the structure much easier to understand.
A aug7 Alternate Names
- A+7
- A7♯5
- A augmented dominant seventh
A aug7 Chord Notes
A aug7 Chord Formula
A aug7 Chord Notation
How To Use A aug7 In Music
Because of its raised fifth, this chord has a bright but tense sound, and the minor seventh adds a bluesy, unstable pull that wants to resolve. It often creates excitement, drama, or a slightly mysterious color before moving to a more settled chord. For example, in the key of D minor, A augmented seventh can function as V and resolve to i in a progression like ii–V–i, or in A major it can appear as I7♯5 for a more coloristic effect before moving to IV or vi. You might also hear it in a chain such as iii–VI–ii–V–I, where the surrounding chords make its tension feel stronger or smoother depending on what comes before and after. Since it contains a dominant-type pull, it is often helpful to compare its behavior with a dominant chord.
A aug7 Chord Inversions
Inversions happen when a note other than the root is the lowest note. For A augmented seventh, root position is A–C♯–E♯–G, first inversion is C♯–E♯–G–A, second inversion is E♯–G–A–C♯, and third inversion is G–A–C♯–E♯. Each inversion keeps the same notes but changes the bass note, which can make the chord feel more grounded, more unstable, or smoother in motion between chords. Players and arrangers use inversions to improve voice-leading, create a gentler bass line, or highlight a different color inside the chord. Closely related variations include simpler forms such as A augmented (A–C♯–E♯) or altered dominant spellings that emphasize the same bright, tense augmented sound.
