D9 Chord
D9 is a dominant seventh plus E, the ninth. Its full spelling has five different notes, so a practical guitar or ukulele grip may leave out a less essential chord tone.
- Notes: D-F sharp-A-C-E
- Symbol: D9
- V9 in G major
- Seventh and ninth
D9
How to play a D9 chord
Notes: D - F# - A - C - ED9
Root position
D - F# - A - C - E1st inversion
F# - A - C - E - D2nd inversion
A - C - E - D - F#3rd inversion
C - E - D - F# - A
Where does D9 belong?
In G major, D9 extends the V7 chord before it resolves to the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- Dominant with a ninthV9
A V7 with the ninth on top: the same pull to G, a fuller sound.
GCD9V9G - Funk and blues homeI9
In funk and blues this is a home chord that never has to resolve.
D9I9G9D9A9
Progressions to try
- GCD9G
D9 is V9 in G major; its seventh keeps the dominant pull while the ninth adds another voice.
- D9G9D9A9
Treat the repeated D9 as a blues home chord, then hear the other ninth chords answer it.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with 10-12-10-11-10-12, a barre at the 10th fret.
On ukulele, start with 5425, played at the 2nd fret. 7687 gives a higher version.
On piano, spread the five-note spelling across both hands: D-F sharp-A-C-E. Move D up an octave to reach the first inversion, F sharp-A-C-E-D; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
The first four notes, D-F sharp-A-C, form the dominant seventh. E adds the ninth.
- Root position: D-F sharp-A-C-E, with D lowest.
- First inversion: F sharp-A-C-E-D, written D9/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: A-C-E-D-F sharp, written D9/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: C-E-D-F sharp-A, written D9/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Fourth inversion: E-D-F sharp-A-C, written D9/E if E is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does D9 differ from D7?
Remove the ninth, E, and the remaining notes form D7. The seventh stays, so both chords can still pull toward the same tonic. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See D7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
D9
D - F# - A - C - ED7
D - F# - A - C