B♭ Major 11th
Also Known As
Hear the B♭ Major 11th chord played for you.
B♭maj11
B♭ – D – F – A – C – E♭
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9-11
Introduction
The B♭ Major 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of B♭, D, F, A, C, and E♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The Bb Major 11th piano chord (Bbmaj11) consists of the notes Bb, D, F, A, C, Eb. It is a major 9th chord with an added perfect 11th, giving it a bright, expansive character with a dreamy quality found in jazz and contemporary classical music. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7-9-11.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Bb Major 11th has 2 flats.
B♭E♭
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 Bb Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the Bb 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 B♭ Major 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.
B♭ Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Bb Major 11th chord?
Practical voicing drops the third: Bb–F–A–C–Eb. The third (D) and eleventh (Eb) clash.
How does Bbmaj11 differ from Bb11?
Bbmaj11 has major seventh (A). Bb11 has minor seventh (Ab).
How is Bbmaj11 used in music?
Contemporary jazz, big band, film scoring. Bb is one of the most common jazz keys.
How does Bbmaj11 differ from Bbmaj9?
Adds the eleventh (Eb) for expansive quality.
What songs use Major 11th chords?
Film scores, contemporary jazz, ambient.
Do I need to play all six notes?
No — drop the third. Bb–A–C–Eb is clean.
Practice Tips
- Drop the third: Bb–A–C–Eb avoids the D–Eb clash.
- Bbmaj11 is useful in jazz — Bb is a standard key.
- Compare with Bb11.
- Sustain for atmosphere.
- As IV in F Major: Fmaj7 → Bbmaj11 adds depth.
- Common in big band and contemporary jazz.
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.