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Eleventh Chords for Guitar

Let's look now at some additional chord types that are creative substitutes for various triad and seventh chords. These chords will allow us to add some dramatic tension to our chord progressions. These chords are very common in the Jazz style, but also useful as alternative sounds across the range of popular styles. These are moveable chord forms just like our bar chords. The fingerings may be challenging at first, but with practice you will eventually play them effortlessly!

Important: technically, the eleventh interval is one octave above the fourth interval. In practice, due to inherent fingering limitations, there is some flexibility in application with extended chords. Also, as the chords become more complex, there are numerous possible fingerings, some more practical than others. Here will cover the most common fingerings. Bear in mind that the ninth and eleventh intervals are higher register couterparts for the second and fourth intervals, respectively. Given the limitations of our fingers across six strings to include additional intervals, we often have to drop the third to include extended intervals, which will leave these extended chords involving the ninth and/or eleventh sounding like sus2 or sus4 hybrids of sorts.

Also note that as we increase the number of intervals, the number of practically accessible fingering options decreasing, so you will observe that the number of charts decreases as we increase the number of intervals.

Minor Eleventh

For the Minor Eleventh we will use flatted third and flatted seventh intervals as with the Minor Seventh chord, then add the eleventh (skipping the ninth due to fingering limitations). Note that we have had to drop the fifth interval due to fingering limitations. Use this chord as a substitute for a Minor Seventh chord. You will see this chord labeled as m11 or -11.

Minor Eleventh Chord for Guitar

Dominant Eleventh

Now let's consider the Dominant Eleventh Chord. We construct this chord type by adding the eleventh interval note, as the name implies, to a Dominant Ninth chord. Consequently, we use this chord as an alternate for Dominant Seventh chords or Dominant Ninth chords. It is best used, for example, as an embellished dominant seventh chord played after a dominant seventh and leading back into the I chord. Try playing a C7 in E Bar form followed by this C11 and finally resolving to an F Major, and you will hear how this chord sounds in proper context. In this application the C chords are serving as as the V chord from the major key of F.

In keeping with the abbreviated labeling of the Dominant Seventh chord as simply the 7th chord, so we refer to this Dominant Eleventh chord as simply an 11th Chord. So when there is a reference to an 11th chord with no other information offered, assume it is referring to a Dominant Eleventh Chord.

Dominant Eleventh Chords for Guitar

Seven Sharp 11

The Seven Sharp Eleven chord includes a third, flatted seventh, and sharp eleventh intervals. Use this chord as an alternate for a Dominant Seventh chord.You will see this chord labeled as 7#11, 7+11, or Lydian b7.

Dominant Seven Sharp Eleventh Chords for Guitar (7#11)

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