Explore chords · Guitar
D minor 11th chord on guitar (Dm11)
Also called or written Dm11 or Dmin11
D minor 11th contains D, F, A, C, E and G. The 10th-fret barre is a full-finger stretch with the pinky reaching two frets higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11
- Root positionD–F–A–C–E–GDm1110-10-10-10-10-12
- First inversionF–A–C–E–G–DDm11/F1-0-0-0-1-0
- Second inversionA–C–E–G–D–FDm11/Ano shape on this instrument
- Third inversionC–E–G–D–F–ADm11/Cno shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionE–G–D–F–A–CDm11/E0-0-0-0-1-1
- Fifth inversionG–D–F–A–C–EDm11/Gno shape on this instrument
How do you play a D minor 11th chord on guitar?
D minor 11th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 10 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (4) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret five strings at the 10th fret while the pinky reaches the 12th fret on the high E string.
Dm11/F inversion · open position — the easy shape, no barre
D minor 11th is played in open position as 1 0 0 0 1 0: index finger on the low E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The A, D, G and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (2) |
Dm11/F inversion · fret 12
D minor 11th is played at the 12th fret as 13 12 12 12 13 12: barre your index finger across fret 12, ring finger on the low E string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 3 | F (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 4 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (2) |
Dm11/E inversion · open position
D minor 11th is played in open position as 0 0 0 0 1 1: index finger on the B string at fret 1 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The low E, A, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (2) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | F (♭3) |
Dm11/E inversion · fret 10
D minor 11th is played at the 10th fret as 12 10 10 10 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10 and pinky finger on the low E string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 12 | 4 | E (2) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (4) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D minor 11th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11. The 11th, G, adds a suspended colour above the minor seventh. Compare with D minor 9th, which omits the 11th.
What goes wrong with D minor 11th?
- The 4th string buzzes because the index barre is not pressing evenly at the 10th fret.
- The pinky fails to fret the 1st string at the 12th fret, muting the 11th.
When to use it
D minor 11th appears as the vi in F major progressions like F–C–Dm–B♭, the I–V–vi–IV. It fits jazz ballads and R&B where the 11th adds warmth.
Changing to and from D minor 11th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives C♯ minor 11th.
Which voicing to use
The 10th-fret position keeps D in the bass for a solid root. The Dm11/F inversion at the 12th fret puts F in the bass, creating a darker, more unstable sound.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D minor 11th written?
D minor 11th is written Dmin11 or Dm11. The root is D, and it has no common enharmonic spelling.
What is the difference between D minor 11th and D minor 9th?
D minor 11th adds the 11th, G, to the notes of D minor 9th. The 11th creates a suspended quality that the 9th does not have.
Why does the 10th-fret shape use a full barre?
The barre covers five strings at the 10th fret to sound the root, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh. Only the high E string is fretted separately with the pinky.