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F♯ 11th chord on guitar (F♯11)
Also called or written F♯11 or F♯
F♯ 11th is built from F♯, A♯, C♯, E, G♯, B. 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 positionF♯–A♯–C♯–E–G♯–BF♯112-2-2-3-2-4
- First inversionA♯–C♯–E–G♯–B–F♯F♯11/A♯6-4-4-4-5-4
- Second inversionC♯–E–G♯–B–F♯–A♯F♯11/C♯no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionE–G♯–B–F♯–A♯–C♯F♯11/Eno shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionG♯–B–F♯–A♯–C♯–EF♯11/G♯4-2-2-3-2-2
- Fifth inversionB–F♯–A♯–C♯–E–G♯F♯11/B7-7-6-6-7-6
How do you play an F♯ 11th chord on guitar?
F♯ 11th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 2 3 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (4) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold down five strings at fret 2 while the pinky reaches fret 4 on the high e, stretching the hand near the nut.
F♯11/A♯ inversion · fret 4
F♯ 11th is played at the 4th fret as 6 4 4 4 5 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, pinky finger on the low E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the B string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (4) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 3 | E (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
F♯11/A♯ inversion · fret 6
F♯ 11th is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 6 6 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 6, middle finger on the A string at fret 7, ring finger on the B string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 4 | B (4) |
F♯11/G♯ inversion · fret 2
F♯ 11th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 2 3 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, pinky finger on the low E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (4) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
F♯11/G♯ inversion · fret 4
F♯ 11th is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 4 4 5 6: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the B string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (4) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 3 | E (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ 11th combines a major triad with a ♭7, 9, and 11: 1–3–5–♭7–9–11. The 11th (B) adds a suspended colour over the dominant seventh. Contrast with F♯ 9th, which omits the 11th.
What goes wrong with F♯ 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 4.
- The ring finger leans on the B string, preventing it from ringing.
When to use it
F♯ 11th is the V chord in B major, resolving to B major in progressions like B–E–F♯–B (I–IV–V–I). Its dominant tension suits rock, blues, and funk, especially when you want a fuller sound than F♯ 9th.
Changing to and from F♯ 11th
- Move to B major by lifting the ring and pinky fingers, then barre the 2nd fret and place your ring finger on the 5th string at fret 4.
- Slide the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret for G 11th.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret root-position voicing keeps F♯ in the bass for a grounded sound. The A♯ inversions put the third in the bass, making the chord brighter and less stable, useful when a bass player covers the root.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ 11th written?
F♯ 11th is written as F♯11 or F#11. The root is F♯, also written F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does F♯ 11th sound so dense?
F♯ 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 F♯ 11th and F♯ 9th?
F♯ 9th contains F♯, A♯, C♯, E, and G♯. F♯ 11th adds the B, the 11th, which creates a suspended feel against the third A♯. The added note makes F♯ 11th more colourful but less direct.
Can I omit the 5th in F♯ 11th?
Yes, omitting the C♯ 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.