How to play Bb7#9: a dominant 7th sharp 9 (the Hendrix chord) built on Bb, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the 3rd fret. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 6 4 6 3 3 x (x = not played).
| Note | Bb | D | Ab | C# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | #9 |
Bb7#9 is a dominant 7th sharp 9 (the Hendrix chord) with Bb as its root. The full theoretical spelling is Bb, D, F, Ab, C#. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
Bb7#9 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
🤲 Play Bb7#9 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
Bb7#9 is spelled Bb, D, F, Ab, C#: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, sharp 9th. The common guitar voicing sounds Bb, D, Ab, C#, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 6 4 6 3 3 x (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 3rd fret from the G string to the B string (a barre). Add the A string at the 4th fret. Add the low E and D strings at the 6th fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the high E string.
Bb7#9 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
