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How to Read Guitar Chord Diagrams
Learn how to read guitar chord diagrams quickly. Understand dots, numbers, Xs, Os, and finger positions so you can play any chord chart at sight.
Emin/maj11/A guitar shapes
Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions
Showing 4 of 4 playable shapes
About the chord
E minor major 11 / A (5th inversion)
The E minor major 11 minor major 11 chord combines the minor major 7th with an eleventh A, producing a haunting, mysterious sound. The clash between the minor third G, major seventh D♯, and eleventh A creates a complex tension, perfect for dramatic or cinematic compositions. With A in the bass, this voicing functions as the 5th inversion of E minor major 11.
Root note: E
Bass note: A
Chord tones: 6
Playable shapes: 4
Chord tones
EGBD♯F♯A
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♯ Major Seventh 7
The major seventh adds a smooth, lush tension close to the root.
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.
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