Also written A♭m11 or A♭min11
A♭ minor 11th is built from A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭, and D♭. The 4th-fret barre covers five strings with a pinky stretch to the 6th fret.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A♭ minor 11th stacks a minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 2nd, and perfect 4th over A♭. The minor 3rd between A♭ and C♭ defines the minor quality. Compare A♭ minor 9th, which lacks the 11th.
A♭ minor 11th suits jazz ballads and slow R&B where the 11th adds lushness. Compare A♭ minor for a simpler voicing.
The 4th-fret voicing keeps A♭ in the bass for a solid root position. The A♭m11/B inversion at the 6th fret places C♭ in the bass, creating a smoother, less grounded sound.
A♭ minor 11th is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 4 4 4 6: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6.
Tip — The index barre must cover five strings at the 4th fret while the pinky reaches the 6th fret on the high e.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♭ (11) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 4 | B♭ (9) |
A♭ minor 11th is played at the 6th fret as 7 6 6 6 7 6: barre your index finger across fret 6, ring finger on the low E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 3 | C♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 1 (barre) | D♭ (11) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (9) |
A♭ minor 11th is played at the 4th fret as 6 4 4 4 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the low E string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 4 | B♭ (9) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♭ (11) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
A♭ minor 11th is played at the 6th fret as 6 6 6 6 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 6, ring finger on the B string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (9) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 1 (barre) | D♭ (11) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 3 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 4 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭ minor 11th is written A♭min11 or A♭m11. On a keyboard, type Ab for the root. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
A♭ minor 11th adds the 11th, D♭, to the A♭ minor 9th notes A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, and B♭. The 11th creates a perfect 4th above the root, adding a suspended color.
The minor 3rd C♭ and minor 7th G♭ establish a minor tonality. The 11th D♭ adds a perfect 4th that creates a rich, dense voicing.