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B♭ Major 11th

Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated June 2026 · Maintained by Justin Evans

A♯ Major 11th
This is the same chord as A♯ Major 11th — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with sharps.
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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

Practice B♭ Major 11th

Reading about it is one thing. Drilling it is what makes it automatic.

Chord Drill →Timed drills — build speed and recognitionPractice Room →Plug in a MIDI keyboard for real-time feedback

Introduction

Bb Major 11th piano chord, root position — Bb, D, F, A, C, Eb
The Bb Major 11th chord in root position on a piano keyboard, notes Bb, D, F, A, C, Eb.

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.

Notes

Notes:B♭ – D – F – A – C – E♭

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the B♭ Major 11th is the tonic (I) chord of Bb Major, whose key signature has 2 flats (B♭, E♭).

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 B♭ Major

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

C1C2C3C4C5DFC6C7C8A#
I — B♭ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IB♭ MajorMajor
2iiC MinorMinor
3iiiD MinorMinor
4IVE♭ MajorMajor
5VF MajorMajor
6viG MinorMinor
7vii°A DiminishedDiminished

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 is the B♭ Major 11th chord on piano?
The B♭ Major 11th chord contains the notes B♭ – D – F – A – C – E♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
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.

References & Further Reading

How this chord page is sourced & verified

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this page are drawn from the established body of Western music theory and verified against the conventions below — the same fundamentals taught in conservatories and music programs. We list categories of source material rather than individual titles, and reference the standards themselves rather than any single edition.

  • Standard music theory texts — Widely taught fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, and notation.
  • Western tonal harmony conventions — Established rules for chord construction, voice leading, and key relationships.
  • Interval and chord construction standards — The conventional spelling of intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions.
  • Scale and mode theory — The common derivation of major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and modal scales.
  • Piano pedagogy and technique references — Long-standing practices for fingering, hand position, and practice.

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