E♭m11 — E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭, F, A♭ — is a minor 11th chord: stacked thirds up through the 11th over a minor 7. One of the most-used extended minor chords in jazz, often heard as the iim11 in modal ii-V-I cadences.
Intervals
The Eb minor 11 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- Eb→Gbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Gb→Bbmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Bb→Dbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Db→Fmajor 3rd4 semitones
- F→Abminor 3rd3 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the Eb minor 11 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the Eb minor 11 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1Eb
- ♭3Gb
- 5Bb
- ♭7Db
- 9F
- 11Ab
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 11th (A♭). It sits more than an octave above the root, which is why the chord needs a wide voicing — in tight piano voicings the 11th usually appears in the top register while the root and lower triad tones cluster below.
In context
Functions as the iim11 in jazz ii-V-i cadences and as a modal-minor tonic alternative to plain m7 or m9.
Drill it
The Eb minor 11 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
Open the Chord Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzleRelated
Frequently asked
- What notes are in a E♭m11 chord?
- E♭m11 contains six notes: E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭, F, A♭.
- How is E♭m11 different from E♭m7?
- E♭m11 adds the 11th (A♭) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 11th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is E♭m11 used in music?
- Functions as the iim11 in jazz ii-V-i cadences and as a modal-minor tonic alternative to plain m7 or m9.