How to play A9#11: a dominant 9th sharp 11 built on A, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 5 4 5 4 4 x (x = not played).
| Note | A | C# | G | B | D# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | 9 | #11 |
A9#11 is a dominant 9th sharp 11 with A as its root. The full theoretical spelling is A, C#, E, G, B, D#. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
A9#11 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
🤲 Play A9#11 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
A9#11 is spelled A, C#, E, G, B, D#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, sharp 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds A, C#, G, B, D#, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 5 4 5 4 4 x (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 4th fret from the A string to the B string (a barre). Add the low E and D strings at the 5th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the high E string.
A9#11 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
