Ab9#11

General info

Full name

Ab 9#11

Symbol

Ab9#11

Root

Ab

Quality

9#11

Chord notes

Functions & resolutions

Stability / tension

High tension — requires resolution

Most common resolutions

DbDb MajorBbmBb Minor

Unstable degrees

3C

4Db

resolves up to the resolution tonic

6F

b7Gb

resolves down to the tonic 3rd

#4D

5Eb

resolves up to the 5th

Main resolution

Ab9#11source

DbDb Major

Dominant 7th Ab7 naturally resolves up a 4th to Db. It is the tritone between the chord's 3rd and 7th that creates this pull.

Other resolutions

Ab9#11source

Deceptive resolution

BbmBb Minor

Instead of the tonic, the dominant resolves to the vi degree. Creates surprise and is often used to extend a musical phrase.

Ab9#11source

Modal resolution

GbGb Major

In rock and blues, the dominant often moves to bVII or IV instead of the tonic, creating a modal flavor.

Ab9#11source

Jazz reharmonization

D7D Dominant 7

Tritone substitution: Ab7 can be replaced by D7 (a tritone away). Both chords share the same tritone between the 3rd and 7th, resolving to the same tonic.

Ab9#11source

Functional resolution

Absus4Ab Sus4

The dominant can resolve beyond the tonic: moving to IV (subdominant) or to a suspension (sus4) are common alternatives in pop and folk music.

Substitutions

Tritone substitution

D7D Dominant 7

Features

Character

Dominant, with 9th and augmented 11th

Characteristic interval

Augmented 11th (#11)

Description

The augmented 11th forms a tritone with the root and avoids the close clash that a perfect 11th creates with the 3rd. The combination of major 3rd, minor 7th, and #11 matches the Lydian dominant scale.

Application

• Lydian harmony
• Jazz and fusion
• Film scoring

Voicing & structure

Harmony

Compatible scales

All chord tones are contained in these scales — use them for improvisation.