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G♭ Dominant 11th

Also Known As
What are Enharmonics?G♭ / F♯ Equivalent

Hear the G♭ Dominant 11th chord played for you.

G♭11
G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – E – A♭ – B
Formula:R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-b7-9-11

Introduction

The G♭ Dominant 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of G♭, B♭, D♭, E, A♭, and B. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.

The Gb Dominant 11th piano chord (Gb11) consists of the notes Gb, Bb, Db, E, Ab, B. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-b7-9-11.

Notes

Notes:G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – E – A♭ – B

Key Signature

The key of Gb Dominant 11th has 6 flats.

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭

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.

BEADGCF

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of G♭ Major

These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the G♭ major scale:

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
IG♭ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IG♭ MajorMajor
2iiA♭ MinorMinor
3iiiB♭ MinorMinor
4IVB MajorMajor
5VD♭ MajorMajor
6viE♭ MinorMinor
7vii°F DiminishedDiminished

Theory: Intervals

Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11

The G♭ 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.

G♭ Dominant 11th — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the Gb Dominant 11th chord?
The Gb Dominant 11th chord (Gb11) contains 6 notes: Gb, Bb, Db, E, Ab, B. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9-P11.
How is Gb11 used in music?
Gb11 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 Gb11?
Gb11 uses scale degrees 1-3-5-b7-9-11, giving it its distinctive sound.

Practice Tips

  • Start by placing your thumb on Gb and spacing remaining fingers across the chord.
  • Practice Gb11 slowly with separate hands before combining.
  • Listen carefully to the tension created by the altered tones in this chord.
  • Try voicing Gb11 in different octaves to find the most comfortable position.
  • Resolve Gb11 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.