C7(#11) on guitar
On the guitar, six strings give the chord room to breathe — some positions use them all, others ask you to mute the lowest ones. In this position the bass is E and the shape runs from fret 1 to 4, ringing 3 open strings. Its hollow wooden body gives every chord a warm, natural ring that blooms and fades on its own.
Notes on C: C – E – G – Bb – F#Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – #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.
Where to use it: You hear it a lot in jazz and bossa nova turnarounds — which simply means those short chord loops that close a section and set up the restart. It is also a classic ending color: a last chord that sounds like a question mark instead of a period.
This is just one shape of C7(#11) on guitar. 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. 100% offline.
Unlock in Chord & Fret →Part of the Altered dominants family.