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C♯ 11th chord on guitar (C♯11)
Also called or written C♯11 or C♯
C♯ 11th is built from C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯, F♯. This advanced barre chord requires a full index barre and a pinky stretch to the high e string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11
- Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–B–D♯–F♯C♯119-9-9-10-9-11
- First inversionE♯–G♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯C♯11/E♯1-2-1-1-2-2
- Second inversionG♯–B–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯C♯11/G♯no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionB–D♯–F♯–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯11/Bno shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionD♯–F♯–C♯–E♯–G♯–BC♯11/D♯11-9-9-10-9-9
- Fifth inversionF♯–C♯–E♯–G♯–B–D♯C♯11/F♯2-2-1-1-2-1
How do you play a C♯ 11th chord on guitar?
C♯ 11th is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 9 10 9 11: barre your index finger across fret 9, ring finger on the G string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (4) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | B (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 3 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 4 | D♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold down five strings at fret 9 while the pinky reaches fret 11 on the high e, stretching the hand.
C♯11/E♯ inversion · fret 1
C♯ 11th is played at the 1st fret as 1 2 1 1 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 4 | F♯ (4) |
C♯11/E♯ inversion · fret 11
C♯ 11th is played at the 11th fret as 13 11 11 11 12 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, pinky finger on the low E string at fret 13 and ring finger on the B string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (4) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 3 | B (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
C♯11/E♯ inversion · fret 13
C♯ 11th is played at the 13th fret as 13 14 13 13 14 14: barre your index finger across fret 13, middle finger on the A string at fret 14, ring finger on the B string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 14 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 4 | F♯ (4) |
C♯11/D♯ inversion
C♯ 11th is played at the 9th fret as 11 9 9 10 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, pinky finger on the low E string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11 | 4 | D♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (4) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | B (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 3 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ 11th stacks a major triad with a ♭7, 9, and 11: 1–3–5–♭7–9–11. The 11th (F♯) adds a suspended colour over the dominant seventh. Compare C♯ 9th, which lacks the 11th.
What goes wrong with C♯ 11th?
- The B string is muted because the index barre is not pressing hard enough at the 2nd string.
- The high e string is deadened by the pinky accidentally touching it before fret 11.
- The ring finger leans on the B string, preventing it from ringing.
When to use it
C♯ 11th is the V chord in F♯ major, resolving to F♯ major in progressions like F♯–B–C♯–F♯ (I–IV–V–I). Its dominant tension suits rock, blues, and funk, especially when you want a fuller sound than C♯ 9th.
Changing to and from C♯ 11th
- Move to F♯ major by lifting the ring and pinky fingers, then barre the 9th fret and place your ring finger on the 5th string at fret 11.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 7th fret for B 11th.
Which voicing to use
The 9th fret root-position voicing keeps C♯ in the bass for a grounded sound. The E♯ inversions put the third in the bass, making the chord brighter and less stable, while the D♯ inversion creates a suspended bass movement.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ 11th written?
C♯ 11th is written as C♯11 or C#11. The root is C♯, also written C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does C♯ 11th sound so dense?
C♯ 11th contains six different notes, including the 9th and 11th. That density creates a rich, cluster-like quality that works best in a band mix where other instruments fill the lower register.
What is the difference between C♯ 11th and C♯ 9th?
C♯ 9th contains C♯, E♯, G♯, B, and D♯. C♯ 11th adds the F♯, the 11th, which creates a suspended feel against the third E♯. The added note makes C♯ 11th more colourful but less direct.
Can I omit the 5th in C♯ 11th?
Yes, omitting the G♯ reduces clutter without changing the chord's function. The essential notes are the root, third, ♭7, and 11th. The 9th can also be dropped if needed.