An extended chord is a seventh chord to which an extension note — the ninth, 11th or 13th degree of the major scale — is added.
An eleventh chord — as the name suggests — is a seventh chord to which the 11th scale degree is added.
This post will cover how to construct eleventh chords and provide examples for each type of chord.
It will also provide common fingerings for each chord, along with instruction how to play them on a guitar with any root note.
Identifying the 11th Scale Degree
An extended C major scale with the scale degrees labeled is shown in fig.1.
As you can see, the 11th degree of a major scale is the same note as the fourth degree, an octave higher. In a C major scale, the 11th scale degree is F.
Fig.1
Major Eleventh Chords
If we add the 11th scale degree to a major seventh chord (or a major ninth chord), it becomes a major eleventh chord.
Chord Formula
The chord formula for a major eleventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.
A major eleventh chord contains the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and 11th degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
For example, a Cmaj11 chord contains the notes C, E, G, B, D, and F — the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and 11th notes in a C major scale.
In Practice
In practice a major eleventh chord is rarely played because the third and seventh notes in the chord clash with the added 11th note, creating too much dissonance.
For chords that contain the third and/or seventh notes, a sharp 11th note is often added. These altered chords will be covered later in the series.
Dominant Eleventh Chords
If we add the 11th scale degree to a dominant seventh chord (or a dominant ninth chord), it becomes a dominant eleventh chord.
Chord Formula
The chord formula for a dominant eleventh chord is: 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11.
A dominant eleventh chord contains the first, third, fifth, flatted seventh, ninth and 11th degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A C11 chord contains the notes C, E, G, Bb, D, and F — the first, third, fifth, flatted seventh, ninth and 11th notes in a C major scale (fig.2b).
In Practice
In practice a dominant eleventh chord is not often played because the third note clashes with the 11th note.
It’s more common to omit the third scale degree from a dominant eleventh chord, which creates a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord (see below).
Dominant Ninth, Suspended Fourth Chords
If we replace the third scale degree with the fourth scale degree in a dominant ninth chord, we have a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord.
The fourth scale degree is the same note as the 11th scale degree, so a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord can also be viewed as a dominant eleventh chord without a third scale degree.
Chord Formula
The chord formula for a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord is: 1, 4, 5, b7, 9.
A dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord contains the first, fourth, fifth, flatted seventh and ninth degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A C9sus4 chord contains the notes C, F, G, Bb and D — the first, fourth, fifth, flatted seventh and ninth notes in a C major scale (fig.2c).
Minor Eleventh Chords
If we add the 11th scale degree to a minor seventh chord (or a minor ninth chord), it becomes a minor eleventh chord.
Chord Formula
The chord formula for a minor eleventh chord is: 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11.
A minor eleventh chord contains the first, flatted third, fifth, flatted seventh, ninth and 11th scale degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
A Cm11 chord contains the notes C, Eb, G, Bb, D and F — the first, flatted third, fifth, flatted seventh, ninth and 11th notes in a C major scale (fig.2d).
Fig.2
Summary of Eleventh (and 9sus4) Chord Formulas
The eleventh (and 9sus4) chord formulas covered in this post are summarized below:
- Major eleventh: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.
- Dominant eleventh: 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11.
- Dominant ninth, suspended fourth: 1, 4, 5, b7, 9.
- Minor eleventh: 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11.
Eleventh (and 9sus4) Chords Based on All 12 Root Notes
The eleventh (and 9sus4) chords based on all 12 root notes are shown in fig.3.
Fig.3
Omitted Notes
All of the notes in an extended chord formula don’t necessarily have to be included in any particular chord voicing. Some notes are less important than others and can be omitted.
The important notes that should always be included in an extended chord voicing are the chord’s third and seventh degrees and the highest extension note (the 11th scale degree for eleventh chords).
Root notes, the fifth scale degree and other extension notes are routinely left out of extended chord voicings on a guitar.
Eleventh and 9sus4 Chords on a Guitar
Dominant Eleventh Chords
Fig.4 shows a common fingering for a dominant eleventh chord.
This fingering will allow you to play a dominant eleventh chord with any root note:
- To play a C11, place the barre on the third fret (fig.5a).
- To play an E11, place the barre on the seventh fret (fig.5b).
Fig.5
Dominant Ninth, Suspended Fourth Chords
Fig.6 shows a common fingering for a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord.
Fig.6
This fingering will allow you to play a dominant ninth, suspended fourth chord with any root note:
- To play a C9sus4, place the barre on the third fret (fig.7a).
- To play an E9sus4, place the barre on the seventh fret (fig.7b).
Fig.7
Minor Eleventh Chords
Fig.8 shows a common fingering for a minor eleventh chord.
Fig.8
This fingering will allow you to play a minor eleventh chord with any root note:
- To play a Cm11, place the barre on the third fret (fig.9a).
- To play an Em11, place the barre on the seventh fret (fig.9b).
Fig.9
Chord Quality and Harmonic Function
The extension notes add color, texture and complexity to the seventh chords to which they are added. They don’t change the chord’s quality or harmonic function.
For example, the chords C7 and C11 are both dominant chords and both primarily function as the V chord in the key of F major.
Application
Eleventh chords are commonly substituted for seventh chords, especially in blues and jazz chord progressions.
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