How to play C minor 7th add 11 chord on guitar
Shape 8880bb
Shape characteristics
Barre chord
Your first finger flattens across multiple strings at the same fret. Movable up and down the neck to any key without changing the shape.
Upper register · fret 8-11
Brighter, more focused tone with less low-end. Works well when layering over a bassist or second guitar, and integrates naturally with lead-line phrasing higher on the neck.
Full six-string voicing
All six strings ring, giving you the biggest, most resonant version of this chord, ideal for strumming and solo acoustic contexts.
Bass: C · Top: E♭
The root is in the bass, so the chord sounds grounded and stable. This is the natural starting voicing for most progressions.
Shape 888a8b is the closest alternative voicing. Try both to see which fits better.
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string, 5th string, and 6th string in barre position
- 2 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string and 2nd string in barre position
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "8880bb" mean?
The sequence 8880bb is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this C minor 7th add 11 shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a C minor 7th add 11 chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for C minor 7th add 11. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?
Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.
Other shapes
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