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Chord chart for Em11 Guitar Chord (E minor 11): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

E minor 11 guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 204 playable shapes

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E minor 11 guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

E minor 11 guitar chord

Em11 is the E minor 11 guitar chord. It uses the notes E, G, B, D, F♯, and A and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7-9-11.

The E minor 11 minor 11 chord expands the minor 7th with an eleventh A, producing a soulful, introspective sound. The added 11th A introduces a floating, ethereal quality, perfect for jazz, neo-soul, and ambient music.

Also written as Emin11.

Root note: E
Quality: minor 11
Chord tones: 6
Playable shapes: 204

Chord tones

EGBDF♯A

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape 000002

000002

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string.
  2. 2 Let the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second strings ring open.
  3. 3 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape 000032

000032

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fifth, fourth, and third strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

E Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

G Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

B Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

D Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

F♯ Major Ninth 9

The ninth opens the chord up and adds a modern, spacious color.

A Perfect Eleventh 11

The eleventh gives the chord a wider, suspended feel.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

E minor 11 shape 000002

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  2. 2 Let the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second strings ring open
  3. 3 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 000032

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fifth, fourth, and third strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 002032

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fifth, and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 004032

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fifth, and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 024233

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string and 5th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the sixth string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 004233

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and fifth strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 004033

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fifth, and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 11 shape 004030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fifth, third, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Em11?

Em11 uses the notes E, G, B, D, F♯, and A. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7-9-11.

What is another name for Em11?

Em11 is also written as Emin11.

How do you play Em11 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string. Let the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second strings ring open. Strum from the 6th string down.

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