How to play C#11: an 11th built on C#, with 2 ways to play it, 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 4 3 4 2 2 (x = not played).
| Note | C# | E# | B | F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | 11 |
C#11 is an 11th with C# as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C#, E#, G#, B, D#, F#. This voicing omits the 5th and 9th, the tones guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
C#11 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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C#11 is spelled C#, E#, G#, B, D#, F#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds C#, E#, B, F#, leaving out the 5th and 9th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 4 2 2 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 2nd fret from the B string to the high E string (a barre). Add the D string at the 3rd fret. Add the A and G strings at the 4th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
C#11 belongs to 2 keys: F# major (the V chord) and D# minor (the VII).
