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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Dm9 chord on guitar

Dm9 (D minor 9th) has five notes: D, F, A, C and E, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Dm9

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

Dm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 5 or the E shape at fret 10. 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 5

    3fr××R♭3♭79DFCE
  • E shape · fret 10

    10fr×R♭7♭359DCFAE
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Dm9 minor 9th

A minor 9th chord adds the 9th to a minor . It sounds smooth and moody, the sound of neo-soul, R&B and jazz ballads. Keep the ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 9th; the 5th can go.

  • 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 Dm9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. DRroot
  2. F♭3essential
  3. A5optional
  4. C♭7essential
  5. E9essential
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  • D, the root
  • Other chord tones

Dm9 often leads to G7 and then C: the ii9–V7–I of C major.

Keys

Keys with Dm9

Dm9 belongs to four keys: C major (ii9), F major (vi9), A minor (iv9) and D minor (i9).

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

Dm9 over another bass note

A keeps Dm9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Dm9/F

    Dm9 with its ♭3rd, F, in the bass.

  • Dm9/A

    Dm9 with its 5th, A, in the bass.

  • Dm9/C

    Dm9 with its ♭7th, C, in the bass.

Questions

Dm9, in short

What notes are in the Dm9 chord?
Dm9 (D minor 9th) has five notes: D, F, A, C and E, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Dm9 on guitar?
Dm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 5 or the E shape at fret 10.
What key is Dm9 in?
Dm9 belongs to four keys: C major (ii9), F major (vi9), A minor (iv9) and D minor (i9).
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