How to play E9#11: a dominant 9th sharp 11 built on E, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is one possible voicing: played at the 3rd fret. 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 7 4 3 3 4 (x = not played).
| Note | E | G# | D | F# | A# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | 9 | #11 |
E9#11 is a dominant 9th sharp 11 with E as its root. The full theoretical spelling is E, G#, B, D, F#, A#. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
E9#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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E9#11 is spelled E, G#, B, D, F#, A#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, sharp 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds E, G#, D, F#, A#, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 7 4 3 3 4 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 3rd fret from the G string to the B string (a barre). Add the D and high E strings at the 4th fret. Add the A string at the 7th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
E9#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.
