C7♯5
C Dominant 7th Sharp 5 — the augmented dominant — the raised fifth leans hard into the resolution a fifth below.
The keys
C – E – G♯ – B♭
What's inside C7♯5
| Note | Interval from root | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G♯ | Augmented 5th | #5 |
| B♭ | Minor 7th | b7 |
Inversions
| Position | Keys (low → high) |
|---|---|
| Root position | C4 – E4 – A♭4 – B♭4 |
| 1st inversion | E4 – A♭4 – B♭4 – C5 |
| 2nd inversion | A♭4 – B♭4 – C5 – E5 |
| 3rd inversion | B♭4 – C5 – E5 – A♭5 |
A working voicing
Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:
| Hand | Keys |
|---|---|
| Left (shell) | C2 – B♭2 |
| Right (colour) | E4 – A♭4 |
Where C7♯5 lives
Hard resolution
C7♯5 → Fm9
Altered dominants resolve with maximum drama — especially into minor.
Chromatic approach
Gm7 → C7♯5 → F
The alteration sharpens the pull of the standard two-five.
Put C7♯5 under your fingers
Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.
Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →