Chord Shapes

Dominant 7th Sharp 11th

Intervals: 1-3-5-b7-9-#11. The characteristic chord of the Lydian dominant mode (4th mode of melodic minor). The #11 gives a bright, floating colour without the harsh 4–3 clash of a natural 11 against the 3rd. Functionally, 7#11 is often a secondary dominant or a dominant that behaves more like a temporary tonic (for example IV7#11 in blues or an unresolved V of V). It appears in tunes that sustain a single dominant for many bars, or where the composer wants a modern, “overtonal” dominant sound rather than a classical cadential one. Improvise with Lydian dominant or Mixolydian #4 and aim the #11 by semitone into a chord tone of the following harmony if it resolves.