Guitar Chord Dictionary: B Dominant Seventh Sharp Eleventh Added Chords
Welcome to our in-depth tutorial on the B 7(#11) chord. This chord belongs to the Dominant Chords family and is composed of the notes B, D#, F#, A, and E#. The intervals that build this chord are 1, 3, 5, b7, and #11. The complete names of these music intervals are: Root, Major Third, Perfect Fifth, Minor Seventh, and Augmented Fourth, respectively.
Understanding these intervals and how they interact to form this complex chord is crucial. If you need a refresher on this, our tutorial about fretboard intervals is a great place to start. It's also beneficial to understand how chords are built by stacking intervals, which you can learn more about in our guitar music theory tutorial.
The B 7(#11) chord is a more advanced chord, often used in genres like jazz. If you're new to these types of chords, you might find our tutorial about intermediate guitar chords helpful. Furthermore, the B 7(#11) chord often appears in specific chord progressions. To understand this better, check out our tutorial about jazz chord progressions.
As we delve deeper into this tutorial, we'll show you how to play the B 7(#11) chord with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns. These will illustrate the tones composing the chord and give you a clear visual guide on how to play it. If you're unsure about how to denote these chords depending on the intervals that compose them, our tutorial on guitar chords notation can clarify this for you.
Lastly, if you're interested in exploring more about the family of dominant chords, to which the B 7(#11) chord belongs, don't forget to check out our comprehensive tutorial about dominant (7) guitar chords.
Let's get started and dive deep into the world of the B 7(#11) chord!
Notes in the B 7(#11) chord:
Chord Structure:
B Dominant Seventh Sharp Eleventh Added Guitar Chord Shapes
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
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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FAQ
What notes make up the B7(#11) chord?
The B7(#11) chord is composed of five distinct notes: B, D#, F#, A, and E#. These notes are determined by its specific interval structure from the root.
What are the specific intervals that form a B7(#11) chord?
The B7(#11) chord is built using the following intervals from its root (B): the Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Minor Seventh (b7), and Augmented Fourth (#11).
Why is the #11 interval in the B7(#11) chord also called an Augmented Fourth?
The #11 interval is referred to as an Augmented Fourth because it represents a perfect fourth interval that has been raised by a semitone. This specific naming clarifies its exact position and quality within the chord structure.
In which musical styles is the B7(#11) chord typically used?
The B7(#11) chord is considered a more advanced chord and is frequently utilized in genres such as jazz. Its unique sound adds harmonic color and tension, making it suitable for sophisticated musical contexts.
Why is the B7(#11) chord categorized as a dominant chord?
The B7(#11) chord belongs to the dominant chord family because it contains the characteristic combination of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and crucially, a minor seventh (b7) interval. The #11 is an additional extension to this dominant structure.
What makes the B7(#11) a more advanced chord for guitarists to learn?
The B7(#11) is considered an advanced chord due to its complex five-note composition and the inclusion of the extended, augmented #11 interval. Understanding its theoretical structure and accurately forming it on the fretboard requires a solid grasp of music theory and finger technique beyond basic chords.