Minor

Minor eleventh chords

Minor 9th with added 11th: C-Eb-G-Bb-D-F. Formula: 1-b3-5-b7-9-11

In every key

The same shape, moved. The symbols below are spelled the way the app spells them, which is the spelling the chord's own scale asks for rather than whichever accidental is easier to type.

  • Cm11
  • Dbm11
  • Dm11
  • Ebm11
  • Em11
  • Fm11
  • F#m11
  • Gm11
  • Abm11
  • Am11
  • Bbm11
  • Bm11

Voicings

Written in C, because that is the key the encyclopedia authors them in; every one transposes unchanged.

Basic (no 5th, no 9th)

C · Eb · Bb · F

intermediate

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Full Voicing (1-b3-5-b7-11)

C · Eb · G · Bb · F

intermediate

The complete Cm11 with the 5th — LH C-Eb-G-Bb, RH sings the 11 (F) on top. The textbook reference voicing.

Rootless (9-b3-b7-11)

D · Eb · Bb · F

advanced

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Rootless m11 (b3-11-b7-9)

Eb · F · Bb · D

advanced

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Compact rootless Cm11 — b3, 11, b7, 9. Bass plays C.

Kenny Barron Voicing (1-5-9-b3-b7-11)

C · G · D · Eb · Bb · F

expert

The full two-hand Kenny Barron minor 11 — stacked 5ths both hands

McCoy Quartal Stack (11-b7-b3-5-9)

F · Bb · Eb · G · D

expert

Four perfect 4ths from the 11 — McCoy Tyner's quartal minor 11

Rootless (b7-9-11-5)

Bb · D · F · G

advanced

LH 5-3-2-1; this is a near-quartal stack — keep the wrist loose for the even spacing.

McCoy Quartal Stack (11-b7-b3-5-9)

F · Bb · Eb · G · D

expert

LH F-Bb (a pure fourth), RH Eb-G-D. Fourths stack through both hands — let the whole column resonate.

Aaron Parks Open Spread (1-5-b3-b7-9-11)

C · G · Eb · Bb · D · F

expert

LH 5-1 on the C-G fifth; RH 1-2-3-5 walks Eb-Bb-D-F; let the bottom fifth sustain.

Where it turns up

Modal jazz favorite! Creates floating, suspended sound. Perfect for vamps and modal tunes like 'So What'.

Commonly swapped with

  • Cm9
  • Cm7
  • Fsus/C

Progressions that use it

Every one of these is written out with the hands on a keyboard and on a stave.