A major ninth, sharp eleven

Amaj9(♯11)

Also written AΔ9(♯11) · Amaj9#11

NotesA · C♯ · E · G♯ · B · D♯
Formula1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · ♯11
A1E5B9C♯3G♯7D♯♯11
All its notes, from the root

Lydian with the 9th: 1–3–5–7–9–♯11. Without its root the chord is C♯m9.

How pianists voice Amaj9(♯11)

Nobody plays a jazz chord in root position. These are the shapes that actually get played — the same ones Cadenza shows when you play the chord.

Shell Left hand

A1C♯3G♯7

1 · 3 · 7 — root, 3rd and 7th: the three notes that say what the chord is. Left hand, low; everything else is colour.

Rootless A From the 3rd

E5B9C♯3G♯7

3 · 5 · 7 · 9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano. Without A underneath, the same keys read as C♯m7 — the bass turns them into Amaj9(♯11).

Rootless B From the 7th

B9E5G♯7C♯3

7 · 9 · 3 · 5 — the other half of the pair. A and B alternate through a ii–V–I so the hand barely moves.

Drop 2 Two hands

E5A1C♯3G♯7

5 · 1 · 3 · 7 — close position with the second voice from the top dropped an octave: wider, warmer, the standard for chord melody.

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