C♭ Dominant 11th
Hear the C♭ Dominant 11th chord played for you.
C♭11
C♭ – E – G – B♭ – D – F
Formula:R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-b7-9-11
Introduction
The C♭ Dominant 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of C♭, E, G, B♭, D, and F. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The Cb Dominant 11th piano chord (Cb11) consists of the notes Cb, E, G, Bb, D, F. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-b7-9-11.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Cb Dominant 11th has 7 flats.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of C♭ Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the C♭ major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — B Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
The C♭ Dominant 11th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 show the distance between each note in the chord.
C♭ Dominant 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Cb Dominant 11th chord?
The Cb Dominant 11th chord (Cb11) contains 6 notes: Cb, E, G, Bb, D, F. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11.
How is Cb11 used in music?
Cb11 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for Cb11?
Cb11 uses scale degrees 1-3-5-b7-9-11, giving it its distinctive sound.
Practice Tips
- Start by placing your thumb on Cb and spacing remaining fingers across the chord.
- Practice Cb11 slowly with separate hands before combining.
- Listen carefully to the tension created by the altered tones in this chord.
- Try voicing Cb11 in different octaves to find the most comfortable position.
- Resolve Cb11 to a nearby chord to hear its function in context.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.