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Minor 11 (m11) Guitar Chords - Diagrams and Voicings

This lesson explores the theory and practical voicings behind the expressive and sophisticated m11 chord—an essential tool in jazz harmony.

What Are Minor 11 Chords?

Theoretically minor 11 chords are composed of sixth notes namely root (1), minor third (b3), fifth (5), minor seventh (b7), ninth (9) and eleventh (11).

Most of the time it difficult, if not impossible to play the six notes on the guitar, so we have to leave out certain notes as the fifth (5) and the root (1).

As you can see in the guitar shapes below, the most important notes, those required to hear the color of the minor 11 chords are the minor third (b3), the minor seventh (b7), the ninth (9) and the eleventh (11).

C Minor 11th chord C Eb G Bb D F
Chord tones 1 b3 5 b7 9  11

 

Chord Symbols and Notation

Minor 11 chords can be written m11 or -11

Difference with Suspended Fourth Chords

Minor 11 chords are often confused with suspended fourth chords (sus4 and 7sus4) . Indeed, the fourth (4) is the eleventh (11). That's why there can be confusion with these types of chords.

There is no fifth and no ninth in suspended fourth chords.

Sus4 1 b3 4        
7sus4 1   4 5 b7    
m11 formula 1 b3   5 b7 9  11

Minor 11 Guitar Voicings - (No Fifth, No Ninth)

Here are eight minor eleventh guitar shapes based on the following voicing chart. (No fifth and no ninth).

minor 11 Root voicing R b7 b3 11
1st inversion b3 R 11 b7
2nd inversion b7 11 R b3
3rd inversion 11 b3 b7 R

 

Minor 11 Shapes - Rootless Voicings

Here are four minor eleventh voicings with no roots and no fifths.

minor 11 rootless voicing 9 b7 b3 11
1st inversion b3 9 11 b7
2nd inversion b7 11 9 b3
3rd inversion 11 b3 b7 9

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Last edited: 2025-09-09

Comments

  • Jazz amateur

    1 Jazz amateur On 07/10/2019

    The article states that "It is impossible to play these six notes [of a m11 chord] on the guitar." Sure you can! Just run your pick across your guitar in standard tuning with the high E string fretted on 2. It's an Em11, voiced (1, 11, 7, m3, 5, 9).
    jazz-guitar-licks

    jazz-guitar-licks On 08/10/2019

    Yes so simple. Thanks

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