How to play B7#11: a dominant 7th sharp 11 built on B, 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: x 2 1 2 x 1 (x = not played).
| Note | B | D# | A | E# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | #11 |
B7#11 is a dominant 7th sharp 11 with B as its root. The full theoretical spelling is B, D#, F#, A, E#. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
B7#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 B7#11 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
B7#11 is spelled B, D#, F#, A, E#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, sharp 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds B, D#, A, E#, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 2 1 2 x 1 (x means the string is not played). Fret the D and high E strings at the 1st fret. Add the A and G strings at the 2nd fret. Strum from the A string down, skipping the B string; the low E string stays silent.
B7#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.
