How to play the Gmaj7#5 chord on guitar

The Gmaj7#5 chord, pronounced "G major seven sharp five," is a unique and somewhat uncommon guitar chord. It's characterized by its blend of major seventh and augmented fifth intervals, creating a vibrant, jazzy sound. While not as prevalent as its cousin, the Gmaj7 chord, the Gmaj7#5 can add an interesting flavor to jazz, fusion, and even some pop and rock music.

The Gmaj7#5 chord is typically played as a barre chord on the 3rd fret of the guitar.

Follow these finger positions to play a Gmaj7#5 chord on your guitar:

1. Barre your index finger across all six strings on the 3rd fret.
2. Place your middle finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd (B) string.

To strum this chord, start by playing all six strings together in a downward motion. You can then alternate between downward and upward strums to create a rhythm pattern.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Gmaj7#5 chord, try this:

1. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st (high E) string.
2. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd (B) string.
3. Strum only these two strings together.

This two-note version will still give you the essential sound of the Gmaj7#5 chord.

Learning to play the Gmaj7#5 chord as a barre chord can be useful for quickly changing to other chords in the same key or for getting a fuller sound.

Here's how to play a Gmaj7#5 barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 4th fret, creating a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 5th (A) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 6th fret of the 4th (D) string.
5. Strum all six strings from low to high.

The Gmaj7#5 chord adds a dreamy, ethereal quality to progressions, often providing a sense of floating or suspension. Some common chord progressions featuring Gmaj7#5 include:

• I - IV - Imaj7#5 - IV (G - C - Gmaj7#5 - C)
• vi - Imaj7#5 - IV - V (Em - Gmaj7#5 - C - D)
• ii - V - Imaj7#5 (Am - D - Gmaj7#5) Used in "Fragile" by Sting
• Imaj7#5 - vi - ii - V (Gmaj7#5 - Em - Am - D)
• I - Imaj7#5 - vi - IV (G - Gmaj7#5 - Em - C)

To master the Gmaj7#5 chord, try playing the individual notes (G, B, D#, F#) one at a time, focusing on each note's clarity. Once comfortable, practice transitioning between the notes in different orders.

Another helpful drill is to play the chord in various rhythmic patterns, such as quarter notes, eighth notes, or even syncopated rhythms. This will help your fingers develop muscle memory and make the chord feel more natural to play. Experiment with different strumming patterns to add variety to your practice routine.

Here are 5 popular songs you can play with the Gmaj7#5 chord.

1. All of Me by John Legend (G, Gmaj7#5, Em7, Am7, D7/F#, Cmaj7, Cm7, Bm7, Bbmaj7)
2. Gravity by John Mayer
3. Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
4. PYT (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson
5. Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder (D, G, Gmaj7#5, Bm7, Am7)