Guitar Chord Dictionary: A# Dominant Eleventh Chords
Welcome to our tutorial on the A# 11 chord, a vibrant and complex chord that belongs to the Dominant Chords family. This chord is built from a series of specific musical intervals, including the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh. These intervals give the A# 11 chord its unique character and sound.
Understanding the composition of the A# 11 chord requires a solid grasp of music theory, specifically the concept of intervals. Our fretboard intervals tutorial can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of this topic. With this knowledge, you can build the A# 11 chord and any other chord by stacking the correct intervals.
The A# 11 chord is composed of the notes A#, C##, E#, G#, B#, and D#. These notes are derived from the intervals that build this chord: 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, and 11. If you're not sure how to denote these chords depending on the intervals that compose it, our chord notation tutorial can help.
This chord is a bit more advanced than beginner chords, so if you're just starting out, you may want to check out our intermediate guitar chords tutorial first. If you're ready to dive into the world of dominant chords, our dominant guitar chords tutorial is a great place to start.
The A# 11 chord is often used in jazz chord progressions, so if you're interested in jazz music, you might want to check out our jazz chord progressions tutorial. This will help you understand how to use the A# 11 chord effectively in your playing.
Finally, if you're unsure about the name of a chord shape on the fretboard, our interactive chord analyzer tool can help you identify it. This tool can be particularly useful when learning complex chords like the A# 11.
Stay tuned for our upcoming tutorial that will teach you how to play the A# 11 chord with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns. Happy playing!
Notes of the A# 11 chord:
How the Dominant Eleventh chord is built:
A#11 Guitar Chord Fingers Positions
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Barre
Movable
Position 2
Barre
Movable
Position 3
Barre
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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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.