G♭ Major 11th
Also Known As
Hear the G♭ Major 11th chord played for you.
G♭maj11
G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ – B
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9-11
Introduction
The G♭ Major 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of G♭, B♭, D♭, F, A♭, and B. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The Gb Major 11th piano chord (Gbmaj11) consists of the notes Gb, Bb, Db, F, Ab, B. 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 Gb Major 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.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
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
I — G♭ Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9-P11
The G♭ 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.
G♭ Major 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Gb Major 11th chord?
Practical voicing drops the third: Gb–Db–F–Ab–Cb. The third (Bb) and eleventh (Cb) clash.
How does Gbmaj11 differ from Gb11?
Gbmaj11 has major seventh (F). Gb11 has minor seventh (Fb/E).
How is Gbmaj11 used in music?
Contemporary jazz, film scoring. Enharmonic equivalent F#maj11 is more common.
How does Gbmaj11 differ from Gbmaj9?
Adds the eleventh (Cb) 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. Gb–F–Ab–Cb is clean.
Practice Tips
- Drop the third: Gb–F–Ab–Cb avoids the Bb–Cb clash.
- Gbmaj11 and F#maj11 are enharmonic.
- Cinematic, expansive quality.
- Sustain with pedal for atmosphere.
- Spread across two hands.
- Mostly black keys — distinctive physical shape.
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.