Fm11 — F, A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭ — 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 F minor 11 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- F→Abminor 3rd3 semitones
- Ab→Cmajor 3rd4 semitones
- C→Ebminor 3rd3 semitones
- Eb→Gmajor 3rd4 semitones
- G→Bbminor 3rd3 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the F minor 11 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the F minor 11 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1F
- ♭3Ab
- 5C
- ♭7Eb
- 9G
- 11Bb
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 11th (B♭). 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 F 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.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in a Fm11 chord?
- Fm11 contains six notes: F, A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭.
- How is Fm11 different from Fm7?
- Fm11 adds the 11th (B♭) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 11th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is Fm11 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.