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C♯ Dominant 11th

chord·/chords/dominant-11th/c-sharp/

The C♯ Dominant 11th chord contains the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯, and F♯.

Notes: C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯, F♯ · Piano keys: C♯ E♯ G♯ B D♯ F♯

Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated June 2026 · Maintained by Justin Evans

D♭ Dominant 11th
This is the same chord as D♭ Dominant 11th — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with flats.
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C♯11
C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯
Formula:R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-b7-9-11

Practice C♯ Dominant 11th

Reading about it is one thing. Drilling it is what makes it automatic.

Chord Drill →Timed drills — build speed and recognitionPractice Room →Plug in a MIDI keyboard for real-time feedback

Introduction

C# Dominant 11th piano chord, root position — C#, F, G#, B, D#, F#
The C# Dominant 11th chord in root position on a piano keyboard, notes C#, F, G#, B, D#, F#.

The C♯ Dominant 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯, and F♯. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.

Notes

Notes:C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯

Key Signature

A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the C♯ Dominant 11th is the V (dominant) of F# Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). Spelled as a scale, these notes are C# Mixolydian.

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of F♯ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the F♯ major scale:

C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8F#A#C#
I — F♯ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IF♯ MajorMajor
2iiG♯ MinorMinor
3iiiA♯ MinorMinor
4IVB MajorMajor
5VC♯ MajorMajor
6viD♯ MinorMinor
7vii°F DiminishedDiminished

Theory: Intervals

Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11

The C♯ Dominant 11th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 show the distance between each note in the chord.

C♯ Dominant 11th — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the C♯ Dominant 11th chord on piano?
The C♯ Dominant 11th chord contains the notes C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the C# Dominant 11th chord?
The C# Dominant 11th chord (C#11) contains 6 notes: C#, F, G#, B, D#, F#. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11.
How is C#11 used in music?
C#11 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for C#11?
C#11 uses scale degrees 1-3-5-b7-9-11, giving it its distinctive sound.

Practice Tips

  • Start by placing your thumb on C# and spacing remaining fingers across the chord.
  • Practice C#11 slowly with separate hands before combining.
  • Listen carefully to the tension created by the altered tones in this chord.
  • Try voicing C#11 in different octaves to find the most comfortable position.
  • Resolve C#11 to a nearby chord to hear its function in context.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data reflects piano.org's own interval-derived dataset.

  1. 1

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Beethoven, Ludwig van(1802)

    Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor, Op. 27 No. 2 ("Moonlight"), i

    Public domain score
  4. 4

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