The C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord is a five-note chord made up of C, E, F♯, G, and B♭. It is built from a root, major third, augmented fourth, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 = Root + Major 3rd + Diminished 5th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th = C · E · F♯ · G · B♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 |
| F♯ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| B♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
Key Signature
A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 is the V (dominant) of F Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — 1 flat (B♭). Spelled as a scale, these notes are C Mixolydian.
B♭
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 F Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord on piano?
The C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord contains the notes C – E – F♯ – G – B♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the C Dominant 7th Sharp 11 chord?
C7#11 contains five notes: C (root), E (major third), F# (sharp 11th/augmented 4th), G (perfect fifth), Bb (minor seventh). It is a dominant 7th with a raised 11th — the Lydian Dominant sound.
How does C7#11 differ from C7?
C7#11 adds F# (the #11). This tritone between C and F# creates the distinctive Lydian Dominant colour — brighter and more complex than a standard dominant 7th.
How does C7#11 differ from C11?
C11 has a natural 11th (F) which clashes with the third. C7#11 has F# which does not clash — it sits comfortably alongside the major third (E). This is why jazz musicians prefer #11 over natural 11.
How is C7#11 used in music?
C7#11 is the signature chord of the Lydian Dominant scale (4th mode of melodic minor). It appears in jazz as an enriched dominant, often as a tritone substitution. It adds sophistication to any dominant V chord.
What songs use 7#11 chords?
7#11 chords appear throughout modern jazz. Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and McCoy Tyner use Lydian Dominant voicings. The sound defines sophisticated jazz harmony.
What scale matches C7#11?
The Lydian Dominant scale (C, D, E, F#, G, A, Bb) — the 4th mode of G melodic minor. It is Mixolydian with a raised 4th, combining the dominant 7th function with Lydian brightness.