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Minor 11th chords

The Minor 11th (m11) chord is theoretically a six-note chord, but is played with one or more notes omitted on the guitar. The 11th minor can be used as a substitution for 7th and 9th minor chords to give a different flavor. This chord type is relatively common in jazz fusion and progressive rock.

There are different many versions of this chord possible on the guitar, many of which have difficult fingerings. The shapes presented in this overview are selected from a playability perspective. It's common to exclude the fifth and sometimes also the ninth.

m11

Comments

In the Cm11 version presented above, the 5th is omitted.

In the Dm11 version presented above, the 5th and 9th are omitted. Two barre chord shapes including the 9th are 10 8 10 9 8 8 and X53553.

In the Em11 version presented above, the 5th and 9th are omitted. One of the alternative options including the 9th is 000032.

Fm11 is not included among the pictures. One way to play is 111044.

Gm11 can also be played as 303311. In both this version and the diagram version above, the 5th is omitted.

Bm11 can also be played as X20220. This includes the C# (the fifth note in the chord), but there is a slight dissonance between C# and D in this case.

One of the most frequently used minor 11th chords in popular music styles is the Bm11. Aside from the presented diagram version, two other, but less common, possibilities are X20200 and X22230.

Minor 11th with flats and sharps

Additional chords in this category:

C sharp / D flat m11 (no9): X44420
D sharp / E flat m11 (no9): XX1122
F sharp / G flat m11: 202100
G sharp / A flat m11: 44430X
A sharp / B flat m11 (no9): X1112X

Minor 11th (movable jazz shapes) - 1st set

Comments

This shape is probably the most used fingering for this chord category in jazz. The root is on the 6th string and the fifth string is muted with an adjacent finger. The fifth interval is omitted.

Minor 11th (movable jazz shapes) - 2nd set

Comments

Here is an alternative for the minor 11th with bass on the 5th string. This shape is rather easy to play by laying a finger over three or four strings.

Theory

This chord is built by the following intervals: root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th and major 9th. The minor 11th chord can be found on the ii and vi degrees in a major scale. In C major, this would be Dm11 and Am11 while Em11 would be a non-diatonic chord because of the F# note.

Normally one or more notes are omitted. You can't leave out the 11 since it distinguishes the chord type. Neither can the 3rd be left out since it tells if the chord is a major or minor. The same thing with the 7th, which tells if it's a min7 or a maj7. The notes that can be left out is therefore mainly the 5th and/or the 9th. It's even possible to leave out the 1st given that some other instrument is playing the root.

Chord structure

The minor eleventh is built with the formula 1-b3-5-b7-9-11 (root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 9th and perfect 11th).

Minor 11th chord inversions

A minor 11th chord is possible to play in numerous configurations including five inversions (it's also common to combine inversions with omitting notes for this chord type).

C minor 11th can be used as an example:

• C - Eb - G - Bb - D - F (root position)
• Eb - G - Bb - C - D - F (1st inversion)
• G - Bb - C - D - Eb - F (2nd inversion)
• Bb - C - D - Eb - G - F (3rd inversion)
• D - Eb - G - Bb - C - F (4th inversion)
• F - Eb - G - Bb - C - D (5th inversion)

To indicate that a chord is played inverted it is written as a slash sign before the bass note. For example, the first inversion of the Cm11 chord is written Cm11/Eb. Some examples follow below in short notation:

Cm11/F: 13034X
Cm11/Bb: X11311
Dm11/E: 000011
Dm11/F: 100010
Dm11/G: 300011
Em11/F#: 200000
Em11/G: 300000
Fm11/Eb: X66866
Gm11/Bb: X10011
Gm11/F: 11001X
Am11/E: 000013
Am11/G: 320210
Bm11/D: XX0200
Bm11/F#: 200200

For more chord diagrams, see The Chord Reference ebook.

Chord progressions

Examples of progressions including minor 11th:

E - Esus4 - F#m11

F#m11 - Amaj9 - Dmaj9

Bm11 - Em7 - Cmaj7

Minor 11th chords work as ii and vi, but not as iii chords (atonal). So, for example, in C major key, Dm11 and Am11 are viable (diatonic) options.

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