Eleventh chord

Major eleventh chord, Cmaj11. Playⓘ

In music theory, an eleventh chord is a chord that contains the tertian extension of the eleventh. Typically found in jazz, an eleventh chord also usually includes the seventh and ninth, and elements of the basic triad structure. Variants include the dominant eleventh (C11, C–E–G–B♭–D–F), minor eleventh (Cm11, C–E♭–G–B♭–D–F), and major eleventh chord (Cmaj11, C–E–G–B–D–F).[1] Using an augmented eleventh produces the dominant sharp eleventh (C9♯11, C–E–G–B♭–D–F♯) and major sharp eleventh (Cmaj9♯11, C–E–G–B–D–F♯) chords.

Dominant eleventh chord, with the third omitted – "as it appears in actual music"[2] (C11 or C9sus4). Playⓘ
Dominant eleventh chord, C11, with the third included. V11 in F major.[3] Playⓘ

A perfect eleventh creates a highly dissonant minor ninth interval with the major third of major and dominant chords. To reduce this dissonance the third is often omitted[4] (such as for example in the dominant eleventh chord that can be heard 52 seconds into the song "Sun King" on The Beatles' Abbey Road album), turning the chord into a suspended ninth chord (e.g. C9sus4, C–G–B♭–D–F), which can be also notated as Gm7/C.[2]

Another solution to this dissonance is altering the third or eleventh factor of the chord to turn the problematic minor ninth interval within the chord into a major ninth.[5] A dominant eleventh chord can be altered by lowering the third by a semitone for a minor eleventh chord, or by raising the eleventh by a semitone for a dominant sharp eleventh chord, implying the lydian dominant mode.

As its upper extensions (7th, 9th, 11th) constitute a triad, a dominant eleventh chord with the third and fifth omitted can be notated as a compound chord with a bass note. So C–B♭–D–F is written as B♭/C, emphasizing the ambiguous dominant/subdominant character of this voicing.

Voice leading for dominant eleventh chords in the common practice period.[6] Playⓘ

In the common practice period, the root, 7th, 9th, and 11th are the most common factors present in the V11 chord, with the 3rd and 5th typically omitted. The eleventh is usually retained as a common tone when the chord resolves to I or i.[6]

  1. ^ Smith, Johnny (1980). Mel Bay's Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar, p.231. ISBN 978-1-56222-239-0.
  2. ^ a b Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.87. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
  3. ^ Kostka & Payne (1995). Tonal Harmony, p.431. Third Edition. ISBN 0-07-300056-6.
  4. ^ McCormick, Scott (18 January 2019). "The Lush World of Eleventh Chords". Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. ^ Miller, Michael (2004). Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation, p.52. ISBN 978-1-59257-210-6.
  6. ^ a b Benward & Saker (2009). Music in Theory and Practice: Volume II, p.183-84. Eighth Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-310188-0.