Understand & Play the A# 11 Guitar Chord
The A# 11 chord is a sophisticated extended dominant, built upon the fundamental intervals of a dominant seventh, then adding a ninth and an eleventh. This intricate structure features the notes A#, C##, E#, G#, B#, and D#, creating the intervals 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, and 11 respectively. To truly grasp its sound and feel, utilize the interactive fretboard tool at the top of this page to visualize various voicings and listen to the chord played as a strum or arpeggio. Furthermore, refine your technique with real-time mic feedback, which instantly verifies your note accuracy, ensuring disciplined practice.
Understanding the intricate construction of the A# 11 chord requires a solid grasp of music theory, especially how extended dominant chords are built. You can delve deeper into the theory behind these complex sounds with our Chord Construction tutorial, or explore the Dominant Chord family specifically. Given its advanced nature, you'll often find A# 11 shapes that utilize barre techniques; our Guitar Bar Chords guide can help you master them. For a more direct look at similar extended chords, check out our Ninth Chords tutorial.
Scrolling down this page, you’ll discover a comprehensive collection of A# 11 chord diagrams, carefully ranked from the easiest open positions to more advanced movable barre shapes. You’ll also find additional music theory explanations, popular songs that feature the A# 11 chord, and common keys where it typically appears. Before you dive into the diagrams, commit to a session with the interactive tool above – experiment with different voicings, set a tempo with the drum and BPM tool, and use the mic feedback to ensure your hand position and articulation are precise. This focused approach will significantly accelerate your mastery of this unique chord.
Notes of the A# 11 chord:
How the Dominant Eleventh chord is built:
A#11 Guitar Chord Fingers Positions
Position 1
Barre
Movable
Position 2
Barre
Movable
Position 3
Barre
Movable
Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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You can also use this accessible A#11 chord page, with written diagram instructions and screen-reader support for blind users.
FAQ
What specifically defines an A#11 chord?
The A#11 chord is a dominant eleventh chord built upon the root note A#. It is characterized by its specific intervallic structure, which includes the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
What are the exact notes that make up an A#11 chord?
The notes that compose the A#11 chord are A# (root), C## (major third), E# (perfect fifth), G# (minor seventh), B# (major ninth), and D# (perfect eleventh). These notes are derived directly from its specific intervallic construction.
Why is the A#11 chord categorized as a 'dominant chord'?
The A#11 chord belongs to the dominant chord family because it contains a minor seventh interval (G# relative to A#). This characteristic interval gives dominant chords their unique sound and harmonic function, often creating tension that resolves to a tonic.
How are the intervals 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, and 11 used to construct the A#11 chord?
These numbers represent the specific musical intervals stacked above the root note A#. '1' is the root (A#), '3' is the major third (C##), '5' is the perfect fifth (E#), 'b7' is the minor seventh (G#), '9' is the major ninth (B#), and '11' is the perfect eleventh (D#). Stacking these intervals precisely forms the A#11 chord.
Is the A#11 chord suitable for beginner guitarists?
No, the A#11 chord is generally considered more advanced. Its complex intervallic structure and the number of notes involved make it challenging to understand and finger on the fretboard for those new to guitar.
In what musical styles or situations is the A#11 chord commonly used?
The A#11 chord is frequently used in jazz music and jazz chord progressions. Its rich, complex sound adds harmonic depth and color, making it a staple in jazz harmony.
Why does the A#11 chord contain double sharps (C##) and sharps on notes that might seem natural (E#, B#)?
These specific note spellings (C##, E#, B#) are used to maintain theoretical consistency and accurately represent the correct musical intervals when building the chord from the root A#. For example, C## is the major third of A#, E# is the perfect fifth, and B# is the major ninth, following the rules of music theory for interval naming.