7b9 chords

The 7th flat 9th chord a.k.a. the 7th minus 9th chord is an alternate seventh chord. This chord is a dominant seventh with an added flattened ninth. By comparing C7 with C7b9 we could see that the notes changes from C, E, G, Bb to C, E, G, Bb, Db.

The most common way to play the sharp nine chord is be the movable shape presented in the diagrams below. You have the option to play it with all four fingers or to lay the index finger over the frets behind and use in total three fingers.

7b9

C7b9

  • C7b9 chord diagram

C#7b9

  • C#7b9 chord diagram

D7b9

  • D7b9 chord diagram

D#7b9

  • D#7b9 chord diagram

E7b9

  • E7b9 chord diagram

F7b9

  • F7b9 chord diagram

F#7b9

  • F#7b9 chord diagram

G7b9

  • G7b9 chord diagram

G#7b9

  • G#7b9 chord diagram

A7b9

  • A7b9 chord diagram

A#7b9

  • A#7b9 chord diagram

B7b9

  • B7b9 chord diagram

Comments

C7b9 can also be played as x32320. Also the E7b9 can alternatively be played with one or two open strings.

The seventh flat nine chord can also be written with a plus instead of the sharp symbol, such as C7-9.

Chord formula

The seventh sharp ninth is built with the formula 1-3-5-b7-b9. This includes the root (1), the third (3), the perfect fifth (5), the minor seventh (b7) and a flattened ninth (b9).

Chord construction

C7b9  x - x - C - E - Bb - Db
C#7b9  x - x - Cb - F - B - D
D7b9  x - x - D - Fb - C - Eb
D#7b9  x - x - Db - G - Cb - E
E7b9  x - x - E - Gb - D - F
F7b9  x - x - F - A - Db - Gb
F#b7b9  x - x - Fb - Ab - E - G
G7b9  x - x - G - B - F - Ab
G#7b9  x - x - Gb - C - Fb - A
A7b9  x - x - A - Cb - G - Bb
A#7b9  x - x - Ab - D - Gb - B
B7b9  x - x - B - Db - A - C
Guitar versions of the chord

Notes in chord

C7b9  C - E - G - Bb - Db
C#7b9  Cb - F - Gb - D
D7b9 D - Fb - A - Eb
D#7b9  Db - G - Ab - E
E7b9  E - Gb - B - F
F7b9  F - A - C - Gb
F#7b9  Fb - Ab - Cb - G
G7b9  G - B - D - Ab
G#7b9  Gb - C - Db - A
A7b9  A - Cb - E - Bb
A#7b9  Ab - D - F - B
B7b9  B - Db - Fb - C
The intervals are 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 - b9

Chord progressions

Progressions including this chord type:

G13 - D7 - E7b9 - E7

Am7 - D7b9 - Gmaj9

Chord comparisons

The sharp nine chord has similarities this the dominant seventh and the dominant ninth:

Chord construction

C7  x - C - E - Bb - C - E
C7b9  x - C - E - Bb - Db - x
C9  x - C - E - Bb - D - G
Guitar versions of the chord

Notes in chord

C7 C - E - G - Bb
C7b9 C - E - G - Bb - Db
C9 C - E - G - Bb - D
Theoretical order of notes


Notice that C7, C9 and C7b9 sometimes are played without the fifth interval.

Illustrated comparison with charts including intervals:


C7 chord diagram with intervals
C7 with C tone on 1st fret, 2nd string


C9 chord diagram with intervals
C9 with D tone (9) on 3rd fret, 2nd string


C7b9 chord diagram with intervals
C7b9 with Db tone (9b) on 2nd fret, 2nd string

 

The charts show how the 9th in the chord is flattened by moving it one step down.



Back to chord types

Advertisement