How to play Bb9: a dominant 9th built on Bb, with 6 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: an open-position shape using 1 open string, played near the nut. 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: x 1 0 1 1 1 (x = not played).
| Note | Bb | D | F | Ab | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 | b7 | 9 |
Bb9 is a dominant 9th with Bb as its root. The full theoretical spelling is Bb, D, F, Ab, C. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Bb9 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 1 major key and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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Bb9 is spelled Bb, D, F, Ab, C: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 1 0 1 1 1 (x means the string is not played). Fret the A, G, B and high E strings at the 1st fret. The D string rings open. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
Bb9 belongs to 2 keys: Eb major (the V chord) and C minor (the VII).
