C7♯11 Chord on Guitar

C7♯11 is the C dominant 7♯11 chord — 5 notes (C, E, G, B♭, F♯) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♯11. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · F♯Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · ♯11Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C7♯11: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C7♯11 – open position×R♯11♭7R3open position
  • C7♯11 – fret 2×R3♭73♯11fret 2
  • C7♯11 – fret 3×R♯11♭735fret 3
  • C7♯11 – fret 77R3♭73♯11×fret 7
  • C7♯11 – fret 88R♯11♭735Rfret 8
  • C7♯11 – fret 1010××R♯11♭73fret 10

C7♯11: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C7♯11 – R-3-77R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • C7♯11 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • C7♯11 – R-7-38R×♭73××R-7-3
  • C7♯11 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Scales to play over C7♯11

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B♭, F♯.

Other C chords

Dominant 7♯11 chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C7♯11 chord?
C7♯11 (C dominant 7♯11) contains C, E, G, B♭, F♯ — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♯11.
How do you play C7♯11 on guitar?
A common shape is x34310 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C7♯11?
Good choices to solo over C7♯11: C Lydian dominant, C Diminished (half-whole).