Piano chord
A11A eleventh
- A1
- C♯3
- E5
- G♭7
- B9
- D11
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 17semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play A11 on piano
- Find A: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play A with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B, 5 on D.
- Leave out E, C♯: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A – C♯ – E – G – B – D
1st inversion · C♯ – E – G – B – D – A
2nd inversion · E – G – B – D – A – C♯
3rd inversion · G – B – D – A – C♯ – E
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
A11 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of A11. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has A at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: AA – C♯ – E – G – B – D
- 1st inversionbass: C♯C♯ – E – G – B – D – A
- 2nd inversionbass: EE – G – B – D – A – C♯
- 3rd inversionbass: GG – B – D – A – C♯ – E
A11 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays A, the right hand plays the colour notes G–B–D. Notes that can be left out are left out.
A11 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele A11 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the A11 chord
The 6 notes of A eleventh are A (1), C♯ (3), E (5), G (♭7), B (9), D (11). A dominant eleventh: a seventh chord with the ninth and eleventh. On piano the third is usually left out, because it clashes with the eleventh.
Put your thumb on A and count up: A – C♯ – E – G – B – D. The whole chord spans 17 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split A11: A in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of A11 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–E–G–B–D–A). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E (E–G–B–D–A–C♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G (G–B–D–A–C♯–E).
Add D to A9 and you have A11.
Questions
What notes are in the A11 chord?
A11 (A eleventh) has 6 notes: A (1), C♯ (3), E (5), G (♭7), B (9), D (11).
How many inversions does A11 have?
A11 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A–C♯–E–G–B–D); 1st inversion (C♯–E–G–B–D–A); 2nd inversion (E–G–B–D–A–C♯); 3rd inversion (G–B–D–A–C♯–E).
What is the difference between A11 and A9?
Add D to A9 and you have A11.
Can I play A11 with one hand?
In root position A11 spans 17 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.