The E♭ Major 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of E♭, G, B♭, D, F, and A♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
Construction
E♭ Major 11th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th + Major 2nd + Perfect 4th = E♭ · G · B♭ · D · F · A♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 1 |
| G | Major 3rd | 3 |
| B♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| D | Major 7th | 7 |
| F | Major 2nd | 9 |
| A♭ | Perfect 4th | 11 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E♭ Major 11th is the tonic (I) chord of Eb Major, whose key signature has 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭).
B♭E♭A♭
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 E♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the E♭ major scale:
E♭ Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E♭ Major 11th chord on piano?
The E♭ Major 11th chord contains the notes E♭ – G – B♭ – D – F – A♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Eb Major 11th chord?
Practical voicing drops the third: Eb–Bb–D–F–Ab. The third (G) and eleventh (Ab) clash.
How does Ebmaj11 differ from Eb11?
Ebmaj11 has major seventh (D). Eb11 has minor seventh (Db).
How is Ebmaj11 used in music?
Contemporary jazz, film scoring, ambient music.
How does Ebmaj11 differ from Ebmaj9?
Adds the eleventh (Ab) for expansive quality.
What songs use Major 11th chords?
Film scores, contemporary jazz, ambient music.
Do I need to play all six notes?
No — drop the third. Eb–D–F–Ab is clean.