E Augmented Fifth Sharp Eleventh added Guitar Chord Charts & Variations

E +(#11) guitar chord shapes

E+(#11) is the symbol for the E augmented sharp eleven chord, which contains E, G#, B# and A# (root, major third, raised fifth and sharp eleventh).

E+(#11) adds the sharp eleventh to an augmented triad, so it has four notes and no seventh. Every note of E+(#11) sits inside the E whole-tone scale, so that scale is the natural place to look for melody notes. The B# here is a theoretical spelling: it keeps one letter name for each chord tone, although it sounds like an easier note. A few chord transition tips help when you connect this chord to its neighbours.

The augmented triad underneath is symmetrical, so its three notes divide the octave into three equal parts.

E augmented with sharp 11th guitar chord is also written as E+(#11), Eaug(#11), E+#11 or Eaug#11.

Notes in the E +(#11) chord:

E G# B# A#

Tones of the Augmented Fifth Sharp Eleventh added chord:

Formula: 1 3 #5 #11


Play This Chord With Other Roots

C +(#11) | D +(#11) | E +(#11) | F +(#11) | G +(#11) | A +(#11) | B +(#11) | C#+(#11) | D#+(#11) | F#+(#11) | G#+(#11) | A#+(#11) | Ab+(#11) | Bb+(#11) | Db+(#11) | Eb+(#11) | Gb+(#11)


FAQ

What notes are in E+(#11)?

E+(#11) is spelled E, G#, B# and A#. That is a root, a major third, a raised fifth and a sharp eleventh. The B# is a theoretical spelling of a note that sounds like C.

Why does E augmented sharp eleven contain B#?

The perfect fifth of E is B, and the sharp five raises it to B#. It sounds like C, but the letter B is kept so that the fifth is named correctly.

Which scale fits E+(#11)?

The E Whole-Tone Scale (E, F#, G#, A#, B#, D) contains all four chord notes. The chord uses the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th degrees of it.

How does E+(#11) differ from an E augmented triad?

The triad is E, G# and B#. E+(#11) adds A#, the sharp eleventh, six semitones from the root. That extra note is what gives it a tense colour.