Explore the C7#11 Chord: Play & Understand its Rich Sound
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Built on C, the C7(#11) chord (C seventh sharp eleven) combines a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh and a sharp eleventh, which gives C, E, G, Bb and F#. The F# is the raised eleventh, a tritone above the root C.
Three voicings in total, from fret 3 to fret 9, and one of them is a barre shape. For melodies, reach for the C Lydian Dominant scale: it is the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale, and it holds all five chord tones.
The fretboard at the top labels every note of each shape, so you can see where C, E and F# fall.
C 7th with sharp 11th guitar chord is also written as C7(#11), C7#11 or C7+11.
Notes of the C 7(#11) chord:
How to create the Dominant Seventh Sharp Eleventh Added chord:
C 7(#11) Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the A string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the B string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 9 of the G string
Position 2 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the B string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A and G strings at the same time
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the D string
Position 3 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Mute the D string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the G string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 6 of the high E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 7 of the B string
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What notes does C7(#11) contain?
C, E, G, Bb and F#. The first four form a C seventh chord, and F# is the sharp eleventh, a tritone from the root in pitch.
What does the #11 in C7(#11) do to the sound?
It raises the eleventh, F, by a half step to F#. That note lies a half step lower than the fifth G one octave up, and it gives the chord a brighter, open colour.
Which scale fits C7(#11)?
The C Lydian Dominant scale, spelled C, D, E, F#, G, A and Bb, contains all five chord tones. It is the fourth mode of G melodic minor.
How many voicings are listed for the C seventh sharp eleven chord?
Three voicings are listed, from the third fret to the ninth fret. One of them is a barre voicing, and none uses open strings.
Where does C7(#11) usually lead?
A dominant seventh tends to resolve up a fourth, so C7(#11) leads to F. The raised eleventh adds colour before that resolution.
