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G♯madd11

Character: earthy

  1. G♯Rtriad
  2. B♭3triad
  3. D♯5triad
  4. C♯11add
Open G♯madd11 in the chord libraryDownload the G♯madd11 chart (PDF)
Voicings

6 ways to play G♯madd11

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 G♯madd11/B
8 9 10 11 11 R 5 ♭3

Frets x x 9 8 9 9Notes B D♯ G♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 11Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion G♯madd11/B
1 2 3 4 11 R 5 ♭3

Frets x 2 1 1 2 xNotes B D♯ G♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 11Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 1st inversion G♯madd11/B
2 3 4 5 6 5 R 11 ♭3 R

Frets 4 x x 4 2 4Notes B C♯ G♯Intervals ♭3 11 1Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape Root position G♯madd11
2 3 4 5 6 5 11 ♭3 R R 5 R

Frets 4 6 6 4 2 4Notes G♯ B C♯Intervals 1 ♭3 11Base triadG♯ minor, root position

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

EE shape 1st inversion G♯madd11/B
4 5 6 7 11 R 5 ♭3 ♭3 ♭3

Frets 7 6 6 6 0 7Notes B D♯ G♯ C♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 11Base triadG♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 11th gets a string of its own.

DD shape 2nd inversion G♯madd11/C♯
6 7 8 9 5 ♭3 R 11

Frets x x x 6 9 7Notes C♯ G♯ BIntervals 11 1 ♭3Base triadG♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The 11th takes the 5th’s string.

The rules

The construction rules G♯madd11 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.

Minor add 11 in every key

More chords on G♯

G♯madd11 chord questions

What notes are in G♯madd11?

G♯madd11 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 G♯madd11?

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

How many ways can you play G♯madd11 on guitar?

This page shows 6 voicings of G♯madd11, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.