F9 Chord
F9 is a dominant seventh plus G, 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: F-A-C-E flat-G
- Symbol: F9
- V9 in Bb major
- Seventh and ninth
F9
How to play an F9 chord
Notes: F - A - C - Eb - GF9
Root position
F - A - C - Eb - G1st inversion
A - C - Eb - G - F2nd inversion
C - Eb - G - F - A3rd inversion
Eb - G - F - A - C
Where does F9 belong?
In Bb major, F9 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 Bb, a fuller sound.
BbEbF9V9Bb - Funk and blues homeI9
In funk and blues this is a home chord that never has to resolve.
F9I9Bb9F9C9
Progressions to try
- BbEbF9Bb
F9 is V9 in Bb major; its seventh keeps the dominant pull while the ninth adds another voice.
- F9Bb9F9C9
Treat the repeated F9 as a blues home chord, then hear the other ninth chords answer it.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with 131213, a barre at the 1st fret. The barre shape 13-15-13-14-13-15, at the 13th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords.
On ukulele, the open shape 0310 is the easiest place to start. 8758 gives a higher version.
On piano, spread the five-note spelling across both hands: F-A-C-E flat-G. Move F up an octave to reach the first inversion, A-C-E flat-G-F; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
The first four notes, F-A-C-E flat, form the dominant seventh. G adds the ninth.
- Root position: F-A-C-E flat-G, with F lowest.
- First inversion: A-C-E flat-G-F, written F9/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: C-E flat-G-F-A, written F9/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: E flat-G-F-A-C, written F9/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Fourth inversion: G-F-A-C-E flat, written F9/G if G 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 F9 differ from F7?
Remove the ninth, G, and the remaining notes form F7. 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 F7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
F9
F - A - C - Eb - GF7
F - A - C - Eb