Aadd11
Character: folky
- ARtriad
- C♯3triad
- E5triad
- D11add
6 ways to play Aadd11
Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.
- Triad note
- Substitute
- Added
- Anchored root
- Bass
- Doubling
Frets x 0 11 9 10 10Notes C♯ E A DIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadA major, 1st inversion
The 11th gets a string of its own.
Frets x 0 0 2 2 0Notes D A C♯Intervals 11 1 3Base triadA major, 2nd inversion
The 11th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 5 4 2 2 3 0Notes C♯ E A DIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadA major, 1st inversion
The 11th gets a string of its own.
Frets 5 0 7 6 3 5Notes C♯ D AIntervals 3 11 1Base triadA major, 1st inversion
The 11th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 9 7 7 7 10 0Notes C♯ E A DIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadA major, 1st inversion
The 11th gets a string of its own.
Frets x 0 11 7 10 9Notes D A C♯Intervals 11 1 3Base triadA major, 2nd inversion
The 11th takes the 5th’s string.
The construction rules Aadd11 follows
Start from a triad
Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.
No 7th, no stack
6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.
On guitar, something has to give
Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.
All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.
Add 11 in every key
More chords on A
Aadd11 chord questions
What notes are in Aadd11?
Aadd11 is spelled A C♯ E D: A is the root, C♯ is the 3rd, E is the 5th, D is the 11th.
What is the formula of Aadd11?
1 3 5 11. It is a A major triad with the 11th stacked on top.
How many ways can you play Aadd11 on guitar?
This page shows 6 voicings of Aadd11, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.