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Guitar chords · Minor 11th

Em11 chord on guitar

Em11 (E minor 11th) has six notes: E, G, B, D, F♯ and A, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 11.

Shapes

How to play Em11

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Em11 has an , and one : the A shape at 7. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    EADGBE
  • A shape · fret 7

    7fr×R11♭7♭35EADGB
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Em11 minor 11th

A minor 11th chord stacks the 9th and the 11th on a minor . On a minor chord the 11th does not clash, so it stays: keep the ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 11th, and drop the 5th or the 9th. It has an open, floating sound heard in funk and fusion.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 11th make Em11 a minor 11th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th.

  1. ERroot
  2. G♭3essential
  3. B5optional
  4. D♭7essential
  5. F♯9optional
  6. A11essential
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯GABDF♯GABDF♯GABDF♯GABDGABDF♯GABDF♯GABDF♯GABDF♯G
  • E, the root
  • Other chord tones

Em11 often leads to A7 and then D: the ii11–V7–I of D major.

Keys

Keys with Em11

Em11 belongs to four keys: G major (vi11), D major (ii11), E minor (i11) and B minor (iv11).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Em11 over another bass note

A keeps Em11 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Em11/G

    Em11 with its ♭3rd, G, in the bass.

  • Em11/B

    Em11 with its 5th, B, in the bass.

  • Em11/D

    Em11 with its ♭7th, D, in the bass.

Questions

Em11, in short

What notes are in the Em11 chord?
Em11 (E minor 11th) has six notes: E, G, B, D, F♯ and A, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 11.
How do you play Em11 on guitar?
Em11 has an , and one : the A shape at 7.
What key is Em11 in?
Em11 belongs to four keys: G major (vi11), D major (ii11), E minor (i11) and B minor (iv11).
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