Skip to content
piano.org
A piano reference: chords, scales, theory & ear training.
/

Chord · Reference entry

C♯ Major 11th

Major 11th · C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – F♯ · intervals P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11

The C♯ Major 11th chord (C♯maj11) contains the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, B♯, D♯, and F♯. Its interval formula is R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11. A major 9th plus the 11th — ethereal, requires voicing care to avoid clash with the major 3rd.

D♭ Major 11th
This is the same chord as D♭ Major 11th — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with flats.

At the keyboard

C# · E# · G# · B# · D# · F#
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on C♯ Major 11th
Answer on the keyboard, not with buttons. No login required.
C♯maj11

The C♯ Major 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, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.

Construction

C♯ Major 11th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th + Major 2nd + Perfect 4th = C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B♯ · D♯ · F♯
NoteIntervalDegree
C♯Root1
E♯Major 3rd3
G♯Perfect 5th5
B♯Major 7th7
D♯Major 2nd9
F♯Perfect 4th11

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♯ Major 11th is the tonic (I) chord of C# Major, whose key signature has 7 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯).

F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯

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.

FCGDAEB

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of C♯ Major

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

C1C2C3C4FC5C6C7C8C#G#
IC♯ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IC♯ MajorMajor
2iiD♯ MinorMinor
3iiiF MinorMinor
4IVF♯ MajorMajor
5VG♯ MajorMajor
6viA♯ MinorMinor
7vii°C DiminishedDiminished

C♯ Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the C♯ Major 11th chord on piano?
The C♯ Major 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# Major 11th chord?
C# Major 11th is built from the C# root. Check the interactive keyboard above for exact notes and fingering.
How is the C# Major 11th chord used in music?
C# Major 11th appears in jazz, pop, and classical contexts. Its sound depends on the chord quality (Major 11th).
What is the fingering for C# Major 11th?
See the fingering chart above. Right hand typically uses thumb on root. Left hand uses pinky on root.
What are the inversions of C# Major 11th?
Use the inversion buttons above to see each inversion with notes, fingering, and staff notation.

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 is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    George Grove (ed.)(1900)

    A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    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

Spot something that looks off? Use the note form below — corrections are reviewed by hand.

Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

Corrections

Found an error or omission in this entry? Send a correction — every submission is reviewed.

0 / 1000