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E major 11th chord on guitar (Emaj11)
Also called or written Emaj11 or EM11
E major 11th is built from E, G♯, B, D♯, F♯, and A. The open position uses four open strings, yet the stretch to the high F♯ makes it an advanced grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
- Root positionE–G♯–B–D♯–F♯–AEmaj110-0-1-1-0-2
- First inversionG♯–B–D♯–F♯–A–EEmaj11/G♯4-2-2-2-4-2
- Second inversionB–D♯–F♯–A–E–G♯Emaj11/Bno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionD♯–F♯–A–E–G♯–BEmaj11/D♯no shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionF♯–A–E–G♯–B–D♯Emaj11/F♯2-0-1-1-0-0
- Fifth inversionA–E–G♯–B–D♯–F♯Emaj11/A5-6-4-4-5-4
How do you play an E major 11th chord on guitar?
E major 11th is played in open position as 0 0 1 1 0 2: index finger on the D string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E, A and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (4) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 | D♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe open position requires stretching the ring finger to the 2nd fret of the high E string while keeping the B string open.
12th fret
E major 11th is played at the 12th fret as 12 12 13 13 12 14: barre your index finger across fret 12, middle finger on the D string at fret 13, ring finger on the G string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (4) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 2 | D♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 3 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 4 | F♯ (2) |
Emaj11/G♯ inversion · fret 2
E major 11th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 2 2 4 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the low E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 3 | G♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (4) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 4 | D♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (2) |
Emaj11/G♯ inversion · fret 4
E major 11th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 4 4 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 4, pinky finger on the A string at fret 6, middle finger on the B string at fret 5 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 4 | D♯ (7) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 2 | E (1) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 3 | A (4) |
Emaj11/F♯ inversion
E major 11th is played in open position as 2 0 1 1 0 0: ring finger on the low E string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1. The A, B and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (4) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 | D♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 2 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E major 11th extends the major 7th chord with the 9th (F♯) and 11th (A). The 11th adds a suspended, airy color over the major 7th. Compare it to the E major 9th, which omits the 11th.
What goes wrong with E major 11th?
- Letting the ring finger touch the B string, which mutes the open B.
- Fretting the D and G strings with the same finger, causing a buzz.
- Striking the low E string too hard, overpowering the chord.
When to use it
E major 11th works as the I chord in E major, appearing in progressions like I–IV–V–I (E–A–B–E). Its lush, open sound suits ballads and ambient passages. Try it as a substitute for E major when you need more color.
Changing to and from E major 11th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives D major 11th.
- Move from E major 11th to E major by lifting the ring finger off the high E string and placing it on the 1st fret of the G string.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the most practical, with the root E in the bass. The Emaj11/G♯ inversion places the third in the bass for a smoother voice leading, while the Emaj11/F♯ inversion has the ninth in the bass for a more suspended feel.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E major 11th written?
E major 11th is written as EM11 or Emaj11.
What is the difference between E major 11th and E major 9th?
E major 11th adds the 11th (A) to the E major 9th. The 11th creates a suspended, unresolved quality that the 9th lacks.
Can E major 11th be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 12th fret position uses a full barre. The open position avoids barring but requires careful finger placement.
Why does E major 11th sound dissonant?
The 11th (A) forms a minor 2nd with the major 3rd (G♯) when voiced in the same octave. Spreading the voicing reduces the clash.