43. The add11 Chord

Overview of add11

This time, let's learn another relatively new chord, "add11 (add4)".
Knowledge of sus4, 7sus4, add9 and sus2 is essential, so if you haven't read about them, refer to the links below.

You don't see "add11 (add4)" very often, but it has a very beautiful sound.
As we move on to minor-related topics and tension chords, new intervals will also appear.
Let's take this opportunity to become aware of the distance between notes.

The Sound of add11

First, let's check the sound of add11.

• Cadd11 (piano)

• Cadd11 (guitar)

It's a bright, floating sound with a clear, transparent feel.

Notation of add11

With C as the root, for example, add11 is written as follows.

You rarely see any other notation, but some DAWs apparently use different notations.

How add11 Is Formed

Numbers are involved again this time, so let's check it while looking at the major scale.

For Cadd11, for example, it is a chord with the 11th note from the root, namely F, added.
add11 is also written as add4, which is the same idea as the relationship between add9 and add2.

By the way, we always check things with the C major scale in these articles, but if you practice playing major scales every day, it becomes easier to get there from other root notes as well.
For example, the 11 (4) note is B♭ in the F major scale and C in the G major scale.

Until you get used to it, you can also check by shifting the C major scale in parallel.
Be sure to practice so that you can handle other chords as well.

We got a little sidetracked, but let's also check Cadd11 on the score and the piano roll.

Let's listen to the sound with the chord tones arranged as above.

Unlike the sound you heard at the beginning, it sounds muddy.
Let's check once more the sound you heard at the beginning.

This is related to avoid notes (care notes).
In other words, unless you have a reason to deliberately break up the sound, it's an arrangement of notes better avoided.
That's the part outlined in blue in the image above.
There are exceptions depending on the chord, but as a rule, m2nd and m9th intervals create a sound that can hardly be called pleasant.

Let's check each interval.

If you extract and listen to various m2nd and m9th sounds, they sound like this.

• m2nd

• m9th

Neither could be called a pleasant sound.
The m9th in particular has such an unusual tension that it makes the tritone seem cute.

So what arrangement of notes was used in the audio you heard at the beginning?
Let's check that too.

On guitar, it is fingered like this.

The reason the sound at the beginning sounded clean is that there are no m2nd/m9th intervals.
Doubling the root once more also sounds stable and beautiful, and on piano it's also nice to play sus4 with the left hand and a major triad with the right.
Incidentally, applying this way of thinking, you could say it isn't impossible to emphasize the 3rd over a Csus4 chord.

Using add11

Finally, let's listen to an example of a chord progression using add11.

• Cadd11 → Fadd11 → Gadd11 → B♭add11

It has a unique floating feel and a modern atmosphere that you can't get with triads or sevenths.
When you find add11 in actual songs, analyze the flow including the chords before and after it, and add to your repertoire of chord progressions.

Next time, we cover a chord created by modifying the sixth chord: the "6/9 (six-nine)."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between add11 and add4?

add11 and add4 are essentially the same chord. The 11th note from the root is the same pitch class as the 4th note when octaves are taken into account, so it is called by different names. It is the same as the relationship between add9 and add2.

Q2. What are the avoid notes of the add11 chord?

The m2nd and m9th are the main avoid notes. These intervals are dissonant and create unpleasant sounds, so when using add11 chords, they are arrangements of notes you should deliberately avoid.

Q3. In what kinds of songs is the add11 chord used?

add11 has a unique floating feel and a modern atmosphere, so it is ideal for producing songs that seek a contemporary sound that triads and sevenths can't express. It is often used in contemporary pop and ambient music.