G♭11 — G♭, B♭, D♭, F♭, A♭, C♭ — is a dominant 11th chord: stacked thirds up through the 11th over a dominant 7. The third is almost always omitted in practice because the 11th sits a half-step above it — the classic suspended colour.
Intervals
The Gb dominant 11 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:
- Gb→Bbmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Bb→Dbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Db→Fbminor 3rd3 semitones
- Fb→Abmajor 3rd4 semitones
- Ab→Cbminor 3rd3 semitones
On the keyboard
Each note of the Gb dominant 11 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.
On the guitar
One voicing of the Gb dominant 11 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.
- 1Gb
- 3Bb
- 5Db
- ♭7Fb
- 9Ab
- 11Cb
Common mistakes
The defining note is the 11th (C♭). 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 a V-sus colour — the 11th replaces the 3rd, giving the chord a suspended, unresolved feel before final resolution.
Drill it
The Gb dominant 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 G♭11 chord?
- G♭11 contains six notes: G♭, B♭, D♭, F♭, A♭, C♭.
- How is G♭11 different from G♭7?
- G♭11 adds the 11th (C♭) on top of the underlying 7th chord. The 11th extends the chord into the next octave and adds harmonic colour.
- When is G♭11 used in music?
- Functions as a V-sus colour — the 11th replaces the 3rd, giving the chord a suspended, unresolved feel before final resolution.