What notes are in an A♯m7 chord?

A♯m7 contains four notes: A♯ (root), C♯ (minor third), E♯ (perfect fifth — same as F), and G♯ (minor seventh).

Is A♯m7 the same as B♭m7?

Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. A♯m7 (seven sharps including E♯) is essentially never written in practice; B♭m7 (five flats) is the universal spelling.

Why is the fifth E♯ instead of F?

The minor 7th chord stacks thirds on each scale-letter from the root. A♯ minor uses letters A-C-E-G; the fifth lands on the E letter, which becomes E♯ when raised a half step.

When would I see A♯m7 in real music?

Essentially never as a working chord symbol. The spelling appears only in Bach's systematic key explorations (the WTC) and in dense chromatic late-Romantic music.

A# minor 7 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

A♯ minor 7 (A♯m7) — A♯, C♯, E♯, G♯ — is A♯ minor with a minor 7th on top. Four sharps plus the sharp-of-sharp E♯ (enharmonic to F). The chord is the iim7 of G♯ major (theoretical) and the vim7 of C♯ major. In practice, B♭m7 (the enharmonic spelling) is universally used in published music.

Intervals

The A# minor 7 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

A#→C#minor 3rd3 semitones
C#→E#major 3rd4 semitones
E#→G#minor 3rd3 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the A# minor 7 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the A# minor 7 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

1A#
♭3C#
5E#
♭7G#

Common mistakes

A♯m7 has E♯ as its fifth — same pitch as F natural. The chord uses every kind of accidental in dense sharp-key territory. In practical music the spelling is virtually always replaced by B♭m7. Only Bach's systematic key cycles in the Well-Tempered Clavier give this exact spelling proper musical use.

In context

A♯m7 doesn't function as a working chord outside Bach's WTC and very dense chromatic Romantic music. The enharmonic B♭m7 covers all the practical use cases.

Drill it

The A# minor 7 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

What notes are in an A♯m7 chord?: A♯m7 contains four notes: A♯ (root), C♯ (minor third), E♯ (perfect fifth — same as F), and G♯ (minor seventh).
Is A♯m7 the same as B♭m7?: Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. A♯m7 (seven sharps including E♯) is essentially never written in practice; B♭m7 (five flats) is the universal spelling.
Why is the fifth E♯ instead of F?: The minor 7th chord stacks thirds on each scale-letter from the root. A♯ minor uses letters A-C-E-G; the fifth lands on the E letter, which becomes E♯ when raised a half step.
When would I see A♯m7 in real music?: Essentially never as a working chord symbol. The spelling appears only in Bach's systematic key explorations (the WTC) and in dense chromatic late-Romantic music.