Tools / Chords / G minor 11th

G minor 11th chord on guitar (Gm11)

Also written Gm11 or Gmin11

G minor 11th is built from G, B♭, D, F, A, and C. The open position uses a two-string barre on the B and high e strings.

Open3-0-0-3-1-1

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B♭♭3Minor 3rd

D5Perfect 5th

F♭7Minor 7th

A99th

C11Eleventh

Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9, 11

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionG–B♭–D–F–A–CGm11Bass G

First inversionB♭–D–F–A–C–GGm11/B♭Bass B♭

Second inversionD–F–A–C–G–B♭Gm11/DBass D

Third inversionF–A–C–G–B♭–DGm11/FBass F

Fourth inversionA–C–G–B♭–D–FGm11/ABass A

Fifth inversionC–G–B♭–D–F–AGm11/CBass C

Why it sounds like that

G minor 11th stacks a minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 2nd, and perfect 4th over G. The minor 3rd between G and B♭ gives the chord its minor quality. Compare G minor 9th, which omits the 11th.

What goes wrong with G minor 11th?

The open A string is accidentally muted by the palm of the strumming hand.
The index barre presses too hard and bends the B string sharp.

When to use it

G minor 11th works in the I–V–vi–IV progression in B♭ major: B♭ major–F major–G minor–E♭ major. It suits folk and acoustic rock where the open strings add resonance.

Changing to and from G minor 11th

Sliding the 3rd-fret voicing down two frets to the 1st fret gives F minor 11th.

Which voicing to use

The open position voicing uses open A and D strings for a ringing sound. The Gm11/B♭ inversion at the 5th fret places B♭ in the bass, giving a warmer, darker tone.

How do you play a G minor 11th chord on guitar?

Open

Barre● On the diagram

G minor 11th is played in open position as 3 0 0 3 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3. The A and D strings ring open.

Tip — The index barre must fret the B and high e at the 1st fret while the middle and ring fingers hold the 3rd fret notes.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	2	G (1)
5 (A)	open	—	A (9)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	3	3	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	1	1 (barre)	C (11)
1 (e)	1	1 (barre)	F (♭7)

3rd fret

Barre

G minor 11th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 3 3 5: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (11)
4 (D)	3	1 (barre)	F (♭7)
3 (G)	3	1 (barre)	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	5	4	A (9)

Gm11/B♭ inversion

Barre

G minor 11th is played at the 5th fret as 6 5 5 5 6 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the low E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 6.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	6	3	B♭ (♭3)
5 (A)	5	1 (barre)	D (5)
4 (D)	5	1 (barre)	G (1)
3 (G)	5	1 (barre)	C (11)
2 (B)	6	4	F (♭7)
1 (e)	5	1 (barre)	A (9)

Gm11/F inversion

Beginner

G minor 11th is played in open position as 1 0 0 3 1 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and D strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	1	1	F (♭7)
5 (A)	open	—	A (9)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	3	3	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	1	2	C (11)
1 (e)	3	4	G (1)

Gm11/A inversion

Barre

G minor 11th is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 3 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the low E string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	5	4	A (9)
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (11)
4 (D)	3	1 (barre)	F (♭7)
3 (G)	3	1 (barre)	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

Common questions

How is G minor 11th written?

G minor 11th is written Gmin11 or Gm11.

What is the difference between G minor 11th and G minor 9th?

G minor 11th adds the 11th, C, to the G minor 9th notes G, B♭, D, F, and A. The 11th creates a perfect 4th above the root, adding a suspended color.

Why does G minor 11th sound open?

The open A and D strings ring sympathetically, adding brightness. The minor 3rd B♭ keeps the chord grounded in minor tonality.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C (11)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (11)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

A (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

B♭ (♭3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

D (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

G (1)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

C (11)

2 (B)

F (♭7)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

A (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (♭7)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

C (11)

1 (e)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

A (9)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (11)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)