Ab Dominant Ninth Sharp Eleventh Added (Ab9(#11)) chords on guitar

Ab9(#11) (Ab ninth sharp eleven) follows the formula 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11, so on Ab it reads Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb and D. Bb is the ninth, and D, a tritone above the root, is the sharp eleventh.

Think of it as a dominant ninth with one raised extension on top. The Ab Lydian Dominant scale, the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale, contains every chord tone and adds only the sixth, F, so it fits the chord from start to finish.

Resolution usually goes to the chord a fourth above Ab, as with any dominant.

Ab 9th with sharp 11th guitar chord is also written as Ab9(#11), Ab9#11 or Ab9+11.

Ab9(#11) Chord Notes and Formula

Notes of the Ab 9(#11) chord:

Ab C Eb Gb Bb D

Formula of the Dominant Ninth Sharp Eleventh Added chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 b7 9 #11

Same chord, different name: Ab9(#11) is also written as G#9(#11) (G# ninth sharp eleven).

Ab 9(#11) Chord Interactive Fretboard

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Chords That Go With Ab9(#11)

One key where Ab9(#11) fits is Db major, where it works as the V chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

I · Db ii · Ebm iii · Fm IV · Gb V · Ab vi · Bbm

See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.

More Ab Chords

Ab Abm Ab7 Abm7 Abmaj7 Absus4 Absus2 Abadd9 Abdim Ab9 Ab9#5 Ab9b5 Ab+(#11) Abm(maj7)

Want to know how this chord is built? Read ninth and add9 chords explained, or browse all Ab guitar chords.

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 9(#11) | D 9(#11) | E 9(#11) | F 9(#11) | G 9(#11) | A 9(#11) | B 9(#11) | C#9(#11) | D#9(#11) | F#9(#11) | G#9(#11) | A#9(#11) | Ab9(#11) | Bb9(#11) | Db9(#11) | Eb9(#11) | Gb9(#11)

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Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What notes are in Ab9(#11)?

Ab9(#11) contains Ab, C, Eb, Gb, Bb and D. They are the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth and sharp eleventh.

Is Ab9(#11) the same as G#9(#11)?

Yes, they are the same sound under two names. G#9(#11) spells it G#, B#, D#, F#, A# and C##, which is why the flat spelling is usually easier to read.

Which scale fits Ab9(#11)?

The Ab Lydian Dominant scale has Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F and Gb. It includes every chord tone and adds only F.

Why is the sharp eleventh in Ab9(#11) a natural D?

The perfect eleventh over Ab is Db. Raising it by a half step gives D natural, which is the sharp eleventh, so no sharp sign appears in the spelling.