A Major 11th
Hear the A Major 11th chord played for you.
Amaj11
A – C♯ – E – G♯ – B – D
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9-11
Introduction
The A Major 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of A, C♯, E, G♯, B, and D. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The A Major 11th piano chord (Amaj11) consists of the notes A, C#, E, G#, B, D. It is a major 9th chord with an added perfect 11th, giving it a bright, expansive character with a dreamy quality found in jazz and contemporary classical music. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7-9-11.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of A Major 11th has 3 sharps.
F♯C♯G♯
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 A Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — A Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
The A Major 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.
A Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the A Major 11th chord?
Practical voicing drops the third: A–E–G#–B–D. The third (C#) and eleventh (D) clash.
How does Amaj11 differ from A11?
Amaj11 has major seventh (G#). A11 has minor seventh (G).
How is Amaj11 used in music?
Contemporary jazz, acoustic music, film scoring.
How does Amaj11 differ from Amaj9?
Adds the eleventh (D) for expansive quality.
What songs use Major 11th chords?
Film scores, contemporary jazz, ambient.
Do I need to play all six notes?
No — drop the third. A–G#–B–D is clean.
Practice Tips
- Drop the third: A–G#–B–D avoids the C#–D clash.
- Amaj11 in acoustic jazz adds expansive colour.
- Compare with A11.
- Sustain for atmosphere.
- Spread across two hands.
- Works in folk-jazz and worship settings.
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.