Gadd11 — G, B, D, C — is an add11 chord: major triad + 11th (no 7th, no 9th in between) — a brighter, more harmonically open colour.
Intervals
The G add 11 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- G→Bmajor 3rd4 semitones
- B→Dminor 3rd3 semitones
- D→Cminor 7th10 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the G add 11 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the G add 11 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1G
- 3B
- 5D
- 11C
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 11th (C). 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 a bright extended tonic in rock and modern songwriting, especially in lydian-flavoured passages.
Drill it
The G add 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 Gadd11 chord?
- Gadd11 contains four notes: G, B, D, C.
- How is Gadd11 different from Gmaj7?
- Gadd11 adds the 11th (C) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 11th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is Gadd11 used in music?
- Functions as a bright extended tonic in rock and modern songwriting, especially in lydian-flavoured passages.