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Gadd11

Character: folky

  1. GRtriad
  2. B3triad
  3. D5triad
  4. C11add
Open Gadd11 in the chord libraryDownload the Gadd11 chart (PDF)
Voicings

7 ways to play Gadd11

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 1st inversion Gadd11/B
7 8 9 10 11 R 5 3 R

Frets x 10 9 7 8 8Notes B D G CIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

AA shape 2nd inversion Gadd11/C
10 11 12 13 5 3 R 11 5 R

Frets x 10 10 12 12 10Notes C G BIntervals 11 1 3Base triadG major, 2nd inversion

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

GG shape 1st inversion Gadd11/B
1 2 3 4 11 R 5 3 R R

Frets 3 2 0 0 1 3Notes B D G CIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Gadd11
1 2 3 4 11 5 3 R R R

Frets 3 2 0 0 1 3Notes G B D CIntervals 1 3 5 11Base triadG major, root position

The 11th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 1st inversion Gadd11/B
1 2 3 4 5 5 R 11 3 R 5 R

Frets 3 5 5 4 1 3Notes B C GIntervals 3 11 1Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 1st inversion Gadd11/B
3 4 5 6 7 11 R 5 3 3 3

Frets 7 5 5 5 0 7Notes B D G CIntervals 3 5 1 11Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

DD shape 2nd inversion Gadd11/C
5 6 7 8 5 3 R 11

Frets x x x 5 8 7Notes C G BIntervals 11 1 3Base triadG major, 2nd inversion

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

The rules

The construction rules Gadd11 follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. No 7th, no stack

    6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Add 11 in every key

More chords on G

Gadd11 chord questions

What notes are in Gadd11?

Gadd11 is spelled G B D C: G is the root, B is the 3rd, D is the 5th, C is the 11th.

What is the formula of Gadd11?

1 3 5 11. It is a G major triad with the 11th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play Gadd11 on guitar?

This page shows 7 voicings of Gadd11, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.