Cmaj7(#11) Chord on Guitar
Find guitar chords
1. Select key
2. Select chord type
Major chords [chords based on a major triad]
CC(add9)C6C6/9Cmaj7Cmaj7(9)Cmaj7(13)Cmaj7(#11)Cmaj7(#5)C7C7(9)C7(13)C7(b9)C7(#9)C7(13,b9)C7(b13)C7(#5)C7(b9,b13)C7(#11)C7(b5)Minor chords [chords based on a minor triad]
CmCm6Cm6/9Cm(add9)Cm7Cm7(9)Cm7(11)Cm7(13)Cm7(b13)Cmmaj7Cm7(b5)Cm7(11,b5)Sus chords [3rd suspended and replaced by a 4th or 2nd]
Csus4Csus2C7sus4C7sus4(9)C7sus4(b9)C7sus4(13)Augmented chords [major chords with augmented 5th (#5) ]
CaugChord Symbol Options
Chord Names
- abbreviated
- in detail
Letters / Icons
- m maj dim aug
- − Δ ° +
Parentheses
- standard
- only necessary
Filter Chords
The „C Major Seven Sharp Eleven“ is a Cmaj7 chord with an additional augmented 4th. Because the augmented 4th is not a part of the basic chord (consisting of root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th or 6th), it extends the chord and therefore it is written as a #11 in the chord symbol. While the number 4 at least occurs in sus4 chords, where the 3rd is replaced by 4th, a #4 is completely INEXISTENT in chord symbols.
A Cmaj7(#11) consists of C (1), E (3), G (5), B (maj7) and F# (#11). You will normally omit the 5th on the guitar, but if you play it, it must be lower than the #11 (e.g. C G B E F#), otherwise it will sound terribly dissonant (e.g. C F# B E G).
Maj7 chords are located on the first (I) and fourth (IV) scale degree of a major scale as diatonic chords (stacking 3rds using only tones of the scale). But only the IVth scale degree has an augmented 4th. Consequently Cmaj7(#11) is located on the IVth scale degree of the G major scale. The scale of the IVth scale degree is called the lydian scale. Therefore maj7(#11) chords are often called „lydian chords“. In jazz the maj7(#11) is sometimes also played on the first scale degree, like e.g. Dm11 G7(b13) Cmaj7(#11). In that style the harmonic relation of chords is often used to connect different scales in a very exciting way, like D dorian - G altered - C lydian scale in the shown progression.
open chords
At least one string is ringing without a finger touching it. We call this an open string and consequently that chord an open chord. You can't transpose these chord shapes to a higher key, unless you're using a capodaster or mute the open string or the open string then represents just a different chord tone.
moveable
You can transpose these chord shapes to any different key just by moving the whole chord shape along the guitar fretboard until the squared spot represents the new root.
