eleventh chord
Low (Technical)Technical / Music
Definition
Meaning
In Western harmony, a tertian chord that includes the root, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh scale degrees (or 1–3–5–7–9–11).
In jazz and contemporary music, a complex harmony often used for colour and tension, typically implying a dominant or extended chord function. In practice, some notes (especially the root, third, seventh, and eleventh) are considered essential, while others may be omitted or altered.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in music theory and performance contexts. The 'eleventh' specifically refers to an interval of an eleventh (a compound fourth) above the root. It often carries a specific sonic character—rich, sometimes dissonant, and ambiguous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or conceptual differences. British and American music theory terminology is largely identical for this concept.
Connotations
None specific to region.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to musical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + eleventh chord: play, voice, resolve, alter, imply, use[adjective] + eleventh chord: dominant, minor, major, altered, sparse, denseVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Used in musicology, theory, and composition analysis to describe harmonic structure and voice leading.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of musicians discussing music.
Technical
Core term in jazz harmony, contemporary composition, and advanced music theory. Specifies chord construction and function.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The eleventh-chord voicing was particularly lush.
- He favoured an eleventh-chord sound in his compositions.
American English
- That eleventh-chord voicing is really lush.
- She loves that eleventh-chord sound in modern jazz.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The song uses an eleventh chord, which makes it sound more interesting.
- The composer often employs dominant eleventh chords to create a sense of unresolved tension before the chorus.
- In his solo, the pianist implied a minor eleventh chord by cleverly omitting the fifth and emphasising the third, seventh, and eleventh in his left-hand voicing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'elevate' the sound: an 'eleventh' chord elevates a basic seventh chord by stacking more thirds on top (ninth, then eleventh).
Conceptual Metaphor
HARMONY IS A VERTICAL STRUCTURE / HARMONY IS COLOUR (The chord adds a specific 'colour' or 'shade' to the music).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'одиннадцатый аккорд' without context, as it may be misinterpreted as the 'eleventh chord in a sequence'. The established Russian music theory term is 'ундецимаккорд' (undetsimmakkord).
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing 'eleventh' as /ˈiːləvənθ/. Incorrectly assuming it contains exactly six different notes in all voicings. Using the term to refer to any chord that appears eleventh in a song.
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of a standard eleventh chord?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In practice, the fifth is often omitted, especially on guitar or in dense piano voicings, as it does not define the chord's essential colour.
A ninth chord includes the root, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth. An eleventh chord extends this further by adding the eleventh scale degree.
Yes. The quality (major, minor, dominant) is determined by the third and seventh. A 'minor eleventh' chord has a minor third and minor seventh.
The interval between the major third and the perfect eleventh (which is a compound fourth) is a minor ninth, a highly dissonant interval. This clash is often managed through specific voicings or alterations.