How to play B9#11: a dominant 9th 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 2 1 (x = not played).
| Note | B | D# | A | C# | E# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | 9 | #11 |
B9#11 is a dominant 9th sharp 11 with B as its root. The full theoretical spelling is B, D#, F#, A, C#, E#. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
B9#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.
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B9#11 is spelled B, D#, F#, A, C#, E#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, sharp 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds B, D#, A, C#, E#, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 2 1 2 2 1 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the D string to the high E string (a barre). Add the A, G and B strings at the 2nd fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
B9#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.
