How to play E11: an 11th built on E, with 2 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the 5th fret. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 7 6 7 5 5 (x = not played).
| Note | E | G# | D | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | 11 |
E11 is an 11th with E as its root. The full theoretical spelling is E, G#, B, D, F#, A. This voicing omits the 5th and 9th, the tones guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
E11 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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E11 is spelled E, G#, B, D, F#, A: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th. The common guitar voicing sounds E, G#, D, A, leaving out the 5th and 9th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 7 6 7 5 5 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 5th fret from the B string to the high E string (a barre). Add the D string at the 6th fret. Add the A and G strings at the 7th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
E11 belongs to 2 keys: A major (the V chord) and F# minor (the VII).
