Expert: Lynne May - 5/7/2008

Question
Hi, the first song I ever learned on guitar has a chord in the book which says B (11), and is tabbed:

-----0-----
-----0-----
-----8-----
-----9-----
-----9-----
-----7-----

and I always thought this was simply the "extended chord", "B - eleventh". However, I've come to think that when they put the number in brackets after the root of the chord it means that the chord is actually an "add" chord, versus an "extended" chord. What is more, whenever I look in a chord encyclopedia, I NEVER find this particular voicing for "B - eleventh". Does this mean that the chord I've been playing is actually called "B add eleventh"? Is there such a thing as an "add eleventh chord"? If so, how is it "spelled"?

Thanks very much, as this has been bothering me for a VERY long time!!!

-Sean

Answer
Hi, Sean--

A "ninth" chord MUST have a seventh. In fact ANY "extended" chord inherently includes a SEVENTH, either flatted or natural, as well as all of the extensions below the "name" of the extended chord.

A "B-eleventh" chord therefore, is spelled B D# F# A (the 7th) C# (the 9th) E.(the 11th). As you can see, it is actually an A Major chord on top of a B Major chord. We call it a "compound" chord.

An "added" chord, on the other hand, merely adds the note in question to the major chord. A B-add 11 would be spelled : B D# F# E. The voicing that you tabbed is B F# B D# B E.

The add-11 chord is related to the suspended 4th chord since the 11th is the same note as the 4th (E in this case). The difference is that the suspended 4th chord does not contain the 3rd (D#), but resolves to the major triad. The "Add-11" chord contains both the 3rd and the 4th. This gives it a particularly dissonant sound.

Hope this puts your mind at ease. Let me know if you have any more questions. You can find a detailed discussion of extended chords here:

http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com/chord-formula.html

Lynne
May Music Studio
http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com