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Guitar chords · Minor 11th

G♯m11 chord on guitar (G#m11)

G♯m11 (G♯ minor 11th) has six notes: G♯, B, D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 11.

Shapes

How to play G♯m11

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

G♯m11 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 4

    ××R♭7♭311G♯F♯BC♯
  • A shape · fret 11

    11fr×R11♭7♭35G♯C♯F♯BD♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes G♯m11 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 G♯m11 a minor 11th chord; you can leave out the 5th and the 9th.

  1. G♯Rroot
  2. B♭3essential
  3. D♯5optional
  4. F♯♭7essential
  5. A♯9optional
  6. C♯11essential
EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯F♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯A♯BC♯D♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯F♯A♯BC♯F♯A♯BC♯D♯F♯
  • G♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

G♯m11 often leads to C♯7 and then F♯: the ii11–V7–I of F♯ major.

G♯m11 and A♭m11 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with G♯m11

G♯m11 belongs to four keys: B major (vi11), F♯ major (ii11), G♯ minor (i11) and D♯ 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

G♯m11 over another bass note

A keeps G♯m11 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • G♯m11/B

    G♯m11 with its ♭3rd, B, in the bass.

  • G♯m11/D♯

    G♯m11 with its 5th, D♯, in the bass.

  • G♯m11/F♯

    G♯m11 with its ♭7th, F♯, in the bass.

Questions

G♯m11, in short

What notes are in the G♯m11 chord?
G♯m11 (G♯ minor 11th) has six notes: G♯, B, D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9 and 11.
How do you play G♯m11 on guitar?
G♯m11 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11.
What key is G♯m11 in?
G♯m11 belongs to four keys: B major (vi11), F♯ major (ii11), G♯ minor (i11) and D♯ minor (iv11).
Is G♯m11 the same as A♭m11?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. G♯m11 is the spelling in B major, F♯ major, G♯ minor and D♯ minor; A♭m11 in C♭ major, G♭ major, A♭ minor and E♭ minor.
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