The B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord is a five-note chord made up of B♭, D, E, F, and A♭. It is built from a root, major third, augmented fourth, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 = Root + Major 3rd + Diminished 5th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th = B♭ · D · E · F · A♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | Root | 1 |
| D | Major 3rd | 3 |
| E | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| F | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| A♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
Key Signature
A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 is the V (dominant) of Eb Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭). Spelled as a scale, these notes are Bb Mixolydian.
B♭E♭A♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of E♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the E♭ major scale:
B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord on piano?
The B♭ Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord contains the notes B♭ – D – E – F – A♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Bb Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord?
Bb7#11 contains: Bb, D, E, F, Ab. Lydian Dominant sound.
How does Bb7#11 differ from Bb7?
Adds E (the #11).
How does Bb7#11 differ from Bb11?
Bb11 has Eb (clashes with D). Bb7#11 has E which doesn't clash.
How is Bb7#11 used?
Lydian Dominant. Jazz. Tritone sub for E7. Common as V7#11 in Eb Major.
What scale matches Bb7#11?
Bb Lydian Dominant: Bb, C, D, E, F, G, Ab — 4th mode of F melodic minor.
What songs use 7#11?
Modern jazz. Bb7#11 is one of the most common 7#11 chords in jazz.