How to play Bm9: a minor 9th built on B, with 3 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 2 0 2 2 2 (x = not played).
| Note | B | D | F# | A | C# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | b3 | 5 | b7 | 9 |
Bm9 is a minor 9th with B as its root. The full theoretical spelling is B, D, F#, A, C#. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Bm9 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 2 major keys and 2 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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Bm9 is spelled B, D, F#, A, C#: the root, minor 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 2 0 2 2 2 (x means the string is not played). Fret the A, G, B and high E strings at the 2nd fret. The D string rings open. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
Bm9 belongs to 4 keys: A major (the ii chord), D major (the vi chord), B minor (the i) and F# minor (the iv).
