B9#11

B9#11 is B, D#, F#, A, C# and E#, a nine sharp eleven. The shape this page opens on is written x21221, lowest string first.

Also written B9(#11), B9+11 or B9♯11. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 7 common shapes for B9#11 on the guitar, and 22 derived voicings in 2 families.

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x21221, x2324x, 767667, 7x786x, 787877, x-x-9-10-10-11, x-14-13-14-14-13.

Shell. Root, third and seventh: the guide tones fix the quality, so the fifth is dropped. That is what leaves a string free, so pick a tension to put on top. B9#11 has x2122x, 7676xx, x-x-9-8-10-9, x-14-13-14-14-x, x2x241, 7x786x, 7-6-7-10-x-x, x2126x.

Rootless. The root left to the bass player. Frees a finger for a tension. B9#11 has xx1221, x4324x, x6766x, x-x-11-10-10-11, x-x-13-14-14-13, x4x241, xx3645, x6x665.

Tensions. A shell of B9#11, root, third and seventh, leaves a string free, and the tones that belong over it are the b13 (G) and the 13 (G#).

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.