Saturday 10 April 2010

B11

We've featured a number of dominant chords and minor11th chords on guitar chord of the day before, but this is our first inversion of a dominant 11th chord. This B11 inversion has its root on the E string as indicated by the black square in the chord diagram. For a reminder on how to read chord diagrams have a look at the first guitar chord of the day post. You can either play the roont note with your 3rd finger, or play it with your thumb a 'la Hendrix
B11 Guitar Chord
B11 guitar chord

11th chords can be played in the place of most 7th chords, in place of chord V in major keys. It also quite often precedes a dominant chord e.g:
B11 / B7

Officially 11th chords use these degrees of the major scale: 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11 though usually the 3rd and often the 5th are left out.
B11 uses these notes: B, D#, F#, A, C#

Our inversion uses these notes in the this order: B, A, C#, E with an additional optional A or B on the top E string. B11th can also be thought of as an A major triad with a B root note, this is written B/A (B over A).

Tune in tomorrow for another Guitar Chord Of The Day.