D Minor 11th
Hear the D Minor 11th chord played for you.
Dm11
D – F – A – C – E – G
Formula:R-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals:P1-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Scale Degrees:1-b3-5-b7-9-11
Introduction
The D Minor 11th chord is a six-note chord made up of D, F, A, C, E, and G. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major ninth, and perfect eleventh.
The D Minor 11th piano chord (Dm11) consists of the notes D, F, A, C, E, G. 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 D Minor 11th has 1 flat.
B♭
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 D Minor
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the D minor scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — D Minor (minor)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
Intervals: P1-m3-P5-m7-M9-P11
The D 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.
D Minor 11th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the D Minor 11th chord?
Dm11 contains six notes: D, F, A, C, E, G. All white keys. Practical voicing: D–F–C–E–G. No internal clash in minor 11ths.
How does Dm11 differ from D11?
Dm11 has minor third (F). D11 has major third (F#, usually omitted). Dm11 is dark and full; D11 is dominant with suspended quality.
How is Dm11 used in music?
Dm11 is the ii chord in C Major (Dm11–G13–Cmaj9) — the most common ii–V–I. Also a staple of neo-soul and lo-fi.
How does Dm11 differ from Dm9?
Adds the eleventh (G) for warmth and fullness.
What songs use Minor 11th chords?
Neo-soul, modern jazz. Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, D'Angelo.
Do I need to play all six notes?
Drop the fifth: D–F–C–E–G is practical. All white keys.
Practice Tips
- Dm11 is all white keys (D–F–A–C–E–G) — the easiest m11 chord.
- No clash in minor 11ths — all notes work together.
- Practice Dm11 → G13 → Cmaj9 for the lush ii–V–I in C.
- Dm11 is a lo-fi and neo-soul essential.
- Stacked fourths voicing works beautifully here.
- Compare with Dm9 — the eleventh adds warmth.
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.