Abm11 Guitar Chord Chart | Ab Minor Eleventh
Welcome to our tutorial on the Ab m11 chord, a beautiful and complex chord belonging to the Minor Chords family. This chord is composed of the notes Ab, Cb, Eb, Gb, Bb, and Db and is built using specific musical intervals: 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, and 11.
These intervals are also known by their full names: Root, Minor Third, Perfect Fifth, Minor Seventh, Major Ninth, and Perfect Eleventh. Understanding these intervals and how they stack together to form chords is crucial to mastering the Ab m11 chord and other complex chords. To deepen your understanding of this subject, you might want to check out our tutorial on building chords by stacking intervals.
The Ab m11 chord is not a beginner's chord, and it requires a good understanding of fretboard patterns and chord diagrams. If you're already comfortable with intermediate level chords and want a new challenge, this tutorial is perfect for you. To learn more about intermediate level chords, visit our intermediate guitar chord tutorial.
Finally, it's important to remember that chords are not played in isolation. They are part of chord progressions that make up songs and compositions. The Ab m11 chord can be used in a variety of chord progressions, especially in jazz music. To learn more about how to create beautiful chord progressions, check out our tutorial on common chord progressions.
Ready to dive into the world of the Ab m11 chord? Let's get started!
Notes of the Ab m11 chord:
Chord formula for the Minor Eleventh chord:
Guitar Patterns for the Ab Minor Eleventh chord
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You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
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FAQ
What makes the Ab m11 chord an 'm11' specifically?
The 'm11' designation for the Ab m11 chord indicates that it's a minor chord with extensions up to the eleventh. The 'm' specifically refers to the presence of a minor third (b3) and a minor seventh (b7) interval, while the '11' signifies that the chord includes the ninth (9) and eleventh (11) intervals stacked upon the root, b3, 5, and b7.
Why are the notes Ab, Cb, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db used for Abm11, especially Cb and Db?
These specific notes are carefully chosen to represent the correct musical intervals when building an Ab m11 chord. Cb is used as the minor third (b3) above Ab, rather than B natural, to maintain theoretical consistency in interval spelling. Similarly, Db is the perfect eleventh (11) above Ab. This precise naming ensures the correct melodic and harmonic relationships are defined within the chord structure.
What does it mean for Ab m11 to be considered a 'minor chord'?
The Ab m11 chord is classified as a minor chord because its foundational interval, the third, is a minor third (Cb) relative to its root (Ab). This crucial minor third interval establishes the chord's characteristic minor quality, even with the addition of more complex extensions like the ninth and eleventh.
Given that the Ab m11 chord has six notes, is it always necessary to play all of them on the guitar?
While the Ab m11 chord theoretically comprises six distinct notes (Ab, Cb, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db), it's often not practical or even possible to play every single note simultaneously on a guitar due to string limitations and finger positioning. Guitarists commonly use various voicings for this chord, which may involve omitting certain notes (such as the 5th or even the root in some contexts) while still retaining the essential intervals like the root, minor third, minor seventh, and eleventh to preserve the chord's characteristic sound.
When and where is the Ab m11 chord typically used in music?
The Ab m11 is a rich and complex chord that adds sophistication and color to musical arrangements. It is particularly prevalent in jazz music, where advanced harmonies and intricate chord progressions are common, though it can also be found in other genres that utilize extended chords for a lush, nuanced sound.
How do the listed intervals (1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11) translate to the specific notes (Ab, Cb, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db) in the Ab m11 chord?
Each interval describes the distance from the root note, Ab. Therefore: the 1 (Root) is Ab, the b3 (Minor Third) is Cb, the 5 (Perfect Fifth) is Eb, the b7 (Minor Seventh) is Gb, the 9 (Major Ninth) is Bb, and the 11 (Perfect Eleventh) is Db. These intervals are stacked to construct the complete Ab m11 chord.