Chord & FretAbmaj9(#11) — major ninth sharp eleventh
Also written G#maj9(#11) — the same chord, spelled the other way.
Notes in Abmaj9(#11): Ab – C – Eb – G – Bb – DFormula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 – #11In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.
Take a maj9 and add one unexpected note — an F# over a C chord — and the sound takes on the floating shine of a film score. That color has a name: lydian. The note is raised on purpose, because the plain eleventh would rub against the major third in a semitone clash.
The same chord on all four instruments
Where to use it: Dreamy by nature, it opens or closes film-like ballads and modern jazz pieces. It is worth trying in place of a final maj7 when you want the music to end hanging in the air.
The shapes of Abmaj9(#11) don't end on this page — the whole neck holds dozens. In Chord & Fret, you check it note by note, playing any shape as an arpeggio; open every variation on the neck, grouped by bass note; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.
See the whole neck in Chord & Fret →Part of the Extended family.