Piano chord
C11C eleventh
- C1
- E3
- G5
- B♭♭7
- D9
- F11
- Notes
- 6
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 17semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play C11 on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play C with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 3 on D, 5 on F.
- Leave out G, E: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C – E – G – B♭ – D – F
1st inversion · E – G – B♭ – D – F – C
2nd inversion · G – B♭ – D – F – C – E
3rd inversion · B♭ – D – F – C – E – G
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
C11 inversions
C11 can be played in 4 positions. In root position C is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: CC – E – G – B♭ – D – F
- 1st inversionbass: EE – G – B♭ – D – F – C
- 2nd inversionbass: GG – B♭ – D – F – C – E
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭B♭ – D – F – C – E – G
C11 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays C, the right hand plays the colour notes B♭–D–F. Notes that can be left out are left out.
C11 on other instruments
On guitar and ukulele C11 is usually simplified; you will find it on the root pages.
About the C11 chord
C eleventh has 6 notes: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7), D (9), F (11). A dominant eleventh: a seventh chord with the ninth and eleventh. On piano the third is usually left out, because it clashes with the eleventh.
On the keyboard, start from C and add the other notes above it: C – E – G – B♭ – D – F. From the lowest to the highest key that is 17 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play C with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of C11 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E (E–G–B♭–D–F–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–D–F–C–E). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D–F–C–E–G).
C11 is C9 with one note added: F.
Questions
What notes are in the C11 chord?
C11 (C eleventh) has 6 notes: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7), D (9), F (11).
How many inversions does C11 have?
C11 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E–G–B♭–D–F); 1st inversion (E–G–B♭–D–F–C); 2nd inversion (G–B♭–D–F–C–E); 3rd inversion (B♭–D–F–C–E–G).
What is the difference between C11 and C9?
C11 is C9 with one note added: F.
Can I play C11 with one hand?
In root position C11 spans 17 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.