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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

G♯m9 chord on guitar (G#m9)

G♯m9 (G♯ minor 9th) has five notes: G♯, B, D♯, F♯ and A♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play G♯m9

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

G♯m9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 4

    4fr×R♭7♭359G♯F♯BD♯A♯
  • A shape · fret 11

    9fr××R♭3♭79G♯BF♯A♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes G♯m9 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 G♯m9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. G♯Rroot
  2. B♭3essential
  3. D♯5optional
  4. F♯♭7essential
  5. A♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯F♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BD♯F♯A♯BF♯A♯BD♯F♯
  • G♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

G♯m9 often leads to C♯7 and then F♯: the ii9–V7–I of F♯ major.

G♯m9 and A♭m9 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with G♯m9

G♯m9 belongs to four keys: B major (vi9), F♯ major (ii9), G♯ minor (i9) and D♯ minor (iv9).

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

G♯m9 over another bass note

A keeps G♯m9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • G♯m9/B

    G♯m9 with its ♭3rd, B, in the bass.

  • G♯m9/D♯

    G♯m9 with its 5th, D♯, in the bass.

  • G♯m9/F♯

    G♯m9 with its ♭7th, F♯, in the bass.

Questions

G♯m9, in short

What notes are in the G♯m9 chord?
G♯m9 (G♯ minor 9th) has five notes: G♯, B, D♯, F♯ and A♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play G♯m9 on guitar?
G♯m9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11.
What key is G♯m9 in?
G♯m9 belongs to four keys: B major (vi9), F♯ major (ii9), G♯ minor (i9) and D♯ minor (iv9).
Is G♯m9 the same as A♭m9?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. G♯m9 is the spelling in B major, F♯ major, G♯ minor and D♯ minor; A♭m9 in C♭ major, G♭ major, A♭ minor and E♭ minor.
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