C7#11: guitar chord voicings, inversions, scales and arpeggios

C7#11 (Dom7#11) is an interactive GuitarArcanum page with chord formula, intervals, voicings, inversions, triads, pentatonic patterns, scales and arpeggios on the fretboard.

Chord formula

Interval formula: 1 3 5 b7 9 #11. A dominant 7th with a sharp 11th (and usually a 9th). A bright, lifted dominant — the Lydian-dominant sound.

Chord tones

The #11 removes the clash with the 3rd and adds Lydian light. Key notes: 3, b7, 9, #11. Drop the perfect 5th.

Sound character

Bright, lifted and rich — the Lydian-dominant color of Steely Dan and modern jazz.

Harmonic function

A dominant, often non-functional (backdoor, secondary). The #11 gives the Lydian color.

Typical progressions

  • Bb7#11 → Cmaj7 (backdoor)
  • G7#11 → C
  • F7#11 – Cmaj7

Guitar voicing advice

Leave out the natural 11th and the 5th. Root on the 6th string, with 3, b7, 9 and #11 on top.

Compatible scales for C7#11

Open interactive scale pages that naturally pair with this chord.

Other chord qualities on the C root

Compare this chord with other qualities sharing the same root.