G# Dominant Ninth Sharp Eleventh Added (G#9(#11)) chords on guitar
What makes G#9(#11) (G# ninth sharp eleven) different from a plain dominant ninth? One note, the raised eleventh C##, added to G#, B#, D#, F# and A#.
Chord charts may spell it Ab9(#11), with the same pitches and different note names. For melodic lines try the G# Lydian Dominant scale, the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale: it includes all six chord tones and adds a sixth.
From the root, the formula is 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11, and C## is the #11, a tritone above G#. The ninth, A#, is a whole step above the root.
G# 9th with sharp 11th guitar chord is also written as G#9(#11), G#9#11 or G#9+11.
G# 9(#11) chord Notes:
Tones of the Dominant Ninth Sharp Eleventh Added chord:
Formula: 1 3 5 b7 9 #11
G# 9(#11) Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the notes of G#9(#11)?
G#9(#11) is spelled G#, B#, D#, F#, A# and C##. It stacks a major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth and sharp eleventh on G#.
Is G#9(#11) the same chord as Ab9(#11)?
Yes, only the spelling differs. Ab9(#11) uses Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb and D, so it avoids the C## that G#9(#11) needs.
Why does G#9(#11) include C##?
C## is the sharp eleventh. The perfect eleventh over G# is C#, and raising it by a half step gives C##, which keeps the letter name that matches the interval.
What scale covers G#9(#11)?
The G# Lydian Dominant scale spells G#, A#, B#, C##, D#, E# and F#. All six chord tones are inside it, and E# is the only extra note.
What does the 9 in G#9(#11) add to the chord?
The 9 is the ninth, A#, which sits a whole step over the root once placed in the next octave. It comes together with the minor seventh, F#, so the chord is dominant in character.
