A m11 Chord — Guitar Diagram & Voicings

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A Minor 11th Chord

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Formula R – 9 – ♭3 – 11 – 5 – ♭7

A Minor 11th is built from the notes A, B, C, D, E, G. The interval from A to B is a major 2nd (2 semitones), from A to C is a minor 3rd (3 semitones), from A to D is a perfect 4th (5 semitones), from A to E is a perfect 5th (7 semitones), from A to G is a minor 7th (10 semitones).

The minor 11th is a deep, rich, groove-heavy chord that stacks the 9th and 11th on a minor 7th. Unlike the dominant 11th, the minor 3rd doesn't clash with the 11th, so this chord sounds full and consonant — perfect for soulful vamps and jazz comping.

Theory

Built from R, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11, the minor 11th extends the minor 7th with both a 9th and a perfect 11th. Because the ♭3 and the 11th form a major 9th interval (consonant), the chord hangs together beautifully without any notes fighting. It naturally appears on the 2nd degree of major keys and is a mainstay of jazz and neo-soul harmony.

On the guitar

On guitar, you'll typically drop the 5th or the 9th to make it playable. A useful voicing keeps root, ♭3, ♭7, and 11, with the 9th added if your fingers allow it. The chord has a warm, enveloping quality that works beautifully arpeggiated or strummed. Barre-based shapes on the 5th or 6th string root are the most practical.

Advanced

Minor 11th chords are the backbone of neo-soul comping — they create that lush, layered texture that makes D'Angelo and Erykah Badu records sound so rich. Try holding a m11 voicing and letting it breathe without moving for a few bars — the chord is so harmonically complete it can sustain itself. In jazz, m11 works beautifully as the 2nd chord before a dominant 7th resolution.

Piano