D♯m11 — D♯, F♯, A♯, C♯, E♯, G♯ — is a minor 11th chord: stacked thirds up through the 11th over a minor 7. One of the most-used extended minor chords in jazz, often heard as the iim11 in modal ii-V-I cadences.
Intervals
The D# minor 11 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- D#→F#minor 3rd3 semitones
- F#→A#major 3rd4 semitones
- A#→C#minor 3rd3 semitones
- C#→E#major 3rd4 semitones
- E#→G#minor 3rd3 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the D# minor 11 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the D# minor 11 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1D#
- ♭3F#
- 5A#
- ♭7C#
- 9E#
- 11G#
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 11th (G♯). It sits more than an octave above the root, which is why the chord needs a wide voicing — in tight piano voicings the 11th usually appears in the top register while the root and lower triad tones cluster below.
In context
Functions as the iim11 in jazz ii-V-i cadences and as a modal-minor tonic alternative to plain m7 or m9.
Drill it
The D# minor 11 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.
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Frequently asked
- What notes are in a D♯m11 chord?
- D♯m11 contains six notes: D♯, F♯, A♯, C♯, E♯, G♯.
- How is D♯m11 different from D♯m7?
- D♯m11 adds the 11th (G♯) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 11th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is D♯m11 used in music?
- Functions as the iim11 in jazz ii-V-i cadences and as a modal-minor tonic alternative to plain m7 or m9.