A♭ Minor 11th
Also Known As
Hear the A♭ Minor 11th chord played for you.
A♭m11
A♭ – B – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭
Formula:R-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-b3-5-b7-9-11
Introduction
The A♭ Minor 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of A♭, B, E♭, G♭, B♭, and D♭. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The Ab Minor 11th piano chord (Abm11) consists of the notes Ab, B, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db. It is a minor 9th chord with an added perfect 11th, giving it a dark and expansive character commonly used in jazz, funk, and soul. Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-5-b7-9-11.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Ab Minor 11th has 7 flats.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
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 Ab Minor
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the Ab minor scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — A♭ Minor (minor)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
The A♭ Minor 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.
A♭ Minor 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Ab Minor 11th chord?
Abm11 contains six notes: Ab, Cb, Eb, Gb, Bb, Db. Practical voicing: Ab–Cb–Gb–Bb–Db. No clash.
How does Abm11 differ from Ab11?
Abm11 has minor third (Cb). Ab11 has major third (C, usually omitted).
How is Abm11 used in music?
Abm11 is the ii in Gb Major. Jazz, neo-soul, R&B.
How does Abm11 differ from Abm9?
Adds the eleventh (Db) for warmth.
What songs use Minor 11th chords?
Neo-soul, modern jazz.
Do I need to play all six notes?
Drop the fifth: Ab–Cb–Gb–Bb–Db.
Practice Tips
- No clash in minor 11ths.
- Abm11 has a distinctive mostly-black-keys shape.
- Practice Abm11 → Db13 → Gbmaj9.
- Loop for dark, atmospheric groove.
- Stacked fourths voicing.
- Drop the fifth for practical voicing.
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.