How to play the Abm11 chord on guitar

The Abm11 chord, pronounced "A flat minor eleventh," is a rich and complex chord that adds a sophisticated flavor to any musical composition. This chord is notably used in jazz, R&B, and neo-soul genres, often as a passing chord or to create a lush harmonic texture. The Abm11 chord can be heard in songs like "Neo Soul" by Musiq Soulchild and "Butterflies" by Michael Jackson.

The most common way to play the Abm11 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 4th fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a Abm11 chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger on the 4th fret of the 5th (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), 2nd (B), and 1st (E) strings, forming a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd (B) string.

To strum this chord, start from the 5th (A) string and strum downwards, making sure to avoid playing the 6th (E) string.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Abm11 chord, try playing an Ab minor chord instead. An Ab minor chord consists of the notes Ab, Cb, and Eb, which are the root, minor third, and fifth of the Abm11 chord, respectively. This will give you a similar sound without the added complexity of the 11th.

The Abm11 chord is not a commonly used barre chord shape on guitar. The standard Abm11 voicing is an open chord that doesn't require a barre. To avoid confusion for beginners, I will not provide barre chord instructions for this particular chord.

The Abm11 chord is a versatile and expressive chord that adds depth and sophistication to chord progressions, often evoking a melancholic, introspective, or jazzy feel. Here are some common chord progressions featuring the Abm11 chord:

• i - bIII7 - bVI7 - bII7 (Abm11 - Cm7 - Fm7 - Bbm7)
• i - iv7 - bVI7 - V7 (Abm11 - Dbm7 - Fm7 - Eb7)
• i - bIII7 - iv7 - bVI7 (Abm11 - Cm7 - Dbm7 - Fm7)
• i - bVI7 - ii7(b5) - V7 (Abm11 - Fm7 - Bm7(b5) - Eb7)
• i - bVII7 - bIII7 - bVI7 (Abm11 - Gm7 - Cm7 - Fm7) Used in "Maiden Voyage" by Herbie Hancock

To master the Abm11 chord, start by playing each note individually, focusing on clean execution. Once comfortable, try strumming the chord, ensuring all notes ring out clearly.

Next, practice transitioning to and from Abm11. Choose common chords like Ab major or Db major, and alternate between them. This will help build muscle memory and improve your ability to switch chords smoothly during songs.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Abm11 chord.

1. I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan (A, Bm7, D, Abm11, E)
2. Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers (C, Am, F, G, Abm11, Dm7, G7)
3. Imagine by John Lennon (C, Cmaj7, F, Abm11, Dm, G, G7)
4. My Favorite Things by John Coltrane (Em, Am7, D7, Gmaj7, Cmaj7, F#m7b5, Abm11)
5. Cry Me a River by Julie London (Am, Abm11, Dm7, G7, C, Fmaj7, Bm7b5, E7)
6. I Get a Kick Out of You by Frank Sinatra (Cm7, F7, D7, G7, Abm11, Dm7b5, G7b9)
7. Misty by Ella Fitzgerald (Eb, Cm7, Fm7, Bb7, Abm11, Dm7b5, G7)
8. All the Things You Are by Charlie Parker (Ab, Dbm, Eb7, Abm7, Db7, Fm7, Bb7, Abm11)
9. Stella by Starlight by Miles Davis (Bbm7, Eb7, Abm11, Db9)
10. Stardust by Nat King Cole (G, Bm7, Em7, Am7, D7, Abm11, D7b9, G6)