Bb 9#11 Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Master Interactively

Bb 9(#11) position 1 guitar chord diagram

The Bb9(#11) chord (Bb ninth sharp eleven) combines a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh, a ninth and a sharp eleventh, which gives Bb, D, F, Ab, C and E.

The three voicings in the tool run from fret 1 to fret 7: one uses open strings and two are barre shapes. Every tone of Bb9(#11) belongs to the Bb Lydian Dominant scale, the fourth mode of the melodic minor scale, which adds only a sixth.

Hear Bb9(#11) as a strum and as an arpeggio on the interactive fretboard at the top, one string at a time.

Bb 9th with sharp 11th guitar chord is also written as Bb9(#11), Bb9#11 or Bb9+11.

Bb9(#11) Chord Notes and Formula

Notes in the Bb 9(#11) chord:

Bb D F Ab C E

Chord structure of the Dominant Ninth Sharp Eleventh Added chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 b7 9 #11

Same chord, different name: Bb9(#11) is also written as A#9(#11) (A# ninth sharp eleven).

Bb 9(#11) Chord Interactive Fretboard

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Bb 9(#11) Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Barre Movable

Bb 9(#11) position 1 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the A, G and B strings at the same time
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 6 of the D string

Position 2 Movable

Bb 9(#11) position 2 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the B string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 6 of the low E string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 6 of the D string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 7 of the G string

Position 3 Barre Open

Bb 9(#11) position 3 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Let the low E string play without pressing any fret
  • Mute the A string
  • Let the D string play without pressing any fret
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the G, B and high E strings at the same time

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Chords That Go With Bb9(#11)

One key where Bb9(#11) fits is Eb major, where it works as the V chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

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


More Bb Chords

Want to know how this chord is built? Read ninth and add9 chords explained, or browse all Bb 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)


FAQ

Which notes does Bb9(#11) contain?

Bb9(#11) is Bb, D, F, Ab, C and E. That is the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth and sharp eleventh.

How many ways are there to play Bb9(#11)?

There are three valid voicings for Bb9(#11): one with open strings and two barre voicings. They run from fret 1 up to fret 7.

Can Bb9(#11) also be called A#9(#11)?

Yes, they share all six pitches. A#9(#11) spells them A#, C##, E#, G#, B# and D##, so Bb9(#11) is the easier name to read.

Which scale goes with Bb9(#11)?

The Bb Lydian Dominant scale has Bb, C, D, E, F, G and Ab. It covers all six chord tones and adds only G.

What does the sharp eleventh do in Bb9(#11)?

The sharp eleventh is E, a tritone away from the root Bb. It gives the dominant ninth a brighter, more open sound than a natural eleventh would.