D ninth, sharp eleven

D9(♯11)

Also written D9♭5 · D9#11

NotesD · F♯ · A · C · E · G♯
Formula1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 · ♯11
D1A5C♭7E9F♯3G♯♯11
All its notes, from the root

Lydian dominant with the 9th: 1–3–5–♭7–9–♯11. The ♯11 (G♯) avoids the clash a natural 11 would make with the 3rd. Add the 13th and it becomes D13(♯11).

How pianists voice D9(♯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

D1C♭7F♯3

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

A5C♭7E9F♯3

3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9 — no root: the bass player has it. The left-hand voicing of modern jazz piano. Without D underneath, the same keys read as F♯ø7 — the bass turns them into D9(♯11).

Rootless B From the 7th

C♭7E9A5F♯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

A5D1C♭7F♯3

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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