Construction
D Major 7♯11 = Root + Major 3rd + Diminished 5th + Perfect 5th + Major 7th = D, F♯, G♯, A, C♯
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D | Root | 1 |
| F♯ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G♯ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| A | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| C♯ | Major 7th | 7 |
Fingering
| Note | Key color | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | white | thumb (1) | little finger (5) |
| F♯ | black | index finger (2) | ring finger (4) |
| G♯ | black | middle finger (3) | middle finger (3) |
| A | white | ring finger (4) | index finger (2) |
| C♯ | black | little finger (5) | thumb (1) |
Right hand: thumb (1) on D, index finger (2) on F♯, middle finger (3) on G♯, ring finger (4) on A, little finger (5) on C♯.
Left hand: little finger (5) on D, ring finger (4) on F♯, middle finger (3) on G♯, index finger (2) on A, thumb (1) on C♯.
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the D Major 7♯11 is the tonic (I) chord of D Major, whose key signature has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
F♯C♯
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 D Major
These are the triads built on each degree of D Major:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes D – F♯ – G♯ – A – C♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
D Major 7♯11 : Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D Major 7♯11 chord on piano?
The D Major 7♯11 chord contains the notes D – F♯ – G♯ – A – C♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.