Piano chord
C♯11C sharp eleventh
- C♯1
- E♯3
- G♯5
- B♭7
- D♯9
- F♯11
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 17semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play C♯11 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play C♯ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D♯, 5 on F♯.
- Leave out G♯, E♯: 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 · C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯
1st inversion · E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ – C♯ – E♯
3rd inversion · B – D♯ – F♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
C♯11 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C♯; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: C♯C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯
- 1st inversionbass: E♯E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ – C♯
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ – C♯ – E♯
- 3rd inversionbass: BB – D♯ – F♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
C♯11 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays C♯, the right hand plays the colour notes B–D♯–F♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
C♯11 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele C♯11 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the C♯11 chord
To build C sharp eleventh, take these 6 notes from the root up: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9), F♯ (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.
The keys are C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯, counted up from C♯; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 17 semitones. Few hands reach that far, so share C♯11 between both hands, with C♯ in the left.
In the inversions of C♯11 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♯ (E♯–G♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B (B–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
Compared with C♯9, C♯11 has one more note, F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯11 chord?
C♯11 (C sharp eleventh) has 6 notes: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9), F♯ (11).
How many inversions does C♯11 have?
C♯11 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–B–D♯–F♯); 1st inversion (E♯–G♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯); 3rd inversion (B–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯11 and C♯9?
Compared with C♯9, C♯11 has one more note, F♯.
Can I play C♯11 with one hand?
In root position C♯11 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.