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Guitar chords · Major 9th

Bmaj9 chord on guitar

Bmaj9 (B major 9th) has five notes: B, D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, the , 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Bmaj9

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Bmaj9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 2

    ××R379BD♯A♯C♯
  • E shape · fret 7

    7fr×R7359BA♯D♯F♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Bmaj9 major 9th

A major 9th chord adds the 9th to a major . It is even softer and more open than maj7, a favourite of neo-soul, jazz and ballads. Keep the 3rd, the 7th and the 9th; drop the 5th first.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd, the 7th and the 9th make Bmaj9 a major 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♯3essential
  3. F♯5optional
  4. A♯7essential
  5. C♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯A♯C♯D♯F♯A♯C♯D♯F♯A♯D♯F♯A♯C♯D♯A♯C♯D♯F♯A♯C♯D♯F♯A♯C♯F♯A♯C♯D♯F♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Bmaj9

Bmaj9 belongs to four keys: B major (Imaj9), F♯ major (IVmaj9), G♯ minor (IIImaj9) and D♯ minor (VImaj9).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Bmaj9 over another bass note

A keeps Bmaj9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Bmaj9/D♯

    Bmaj9 with its 3rd, D♯, in the bass.

  • Bmaj9/F♯

    Bmaj9 with its 5th, F♯, in the bass.

  • Bmaj9/A♯

    Bmaj9 with its 7th, A♯, in the bass.

Questions

Bmaj9, in short

What notes are in the Bmaj9 chord?
Bmaj9 (B major 9th) has five notes: B, D♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, the , 3, 5, 7 and 9.
How do you play Bmaj9 on guitar?
Bmaj9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7.
What key is Bmaj9 in?
Bmaj9 belongs to four keys: B major (Imaj9), F♯ major (IVmaj9), G♯ minor (IIImaj9) and D♯ minor (VImaj9).
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