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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Am9 chord on guitar

Am9 (A minor 9th) has five notes: A, C, E, G and B, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Am9

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

Am9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 5 or the A shape at fret 12. 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 5

    5fr×R♭7♭359AGCEB
  • A shape · fret 12

    10fr××R♭3♭79ACGB
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Am9 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 Am9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. ARroot
  2. C♭3essential
  3. E5optional
  4. G♭7essential
  5. B9essential
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  • A, the root
  • Other chord tones

Am9 often leads to D7 and then G: the ii9–V7–I of G major.

Keys

Keys with Am9

Am9 belongs to four keys: C major (vi9), G major (ii9), A minor (i9) and E 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

Am9 over another bass note

A keeps Am9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Am9/C

    Am9 with its ♭3rd, C, in the bass.

  • Am9/E

    Am9 with its 5th, E, in the bass.

  • Am9/G

    Am9 with its ♭7th, G, in the bass.

Questions

Am9, in short

What notes are in the Am9 chord?
Am9 (A minor 9th) has five notes: A, C, E, G and B, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Am9 on guitar?
Am9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 5 or the A shape at fret 12.
What key is Am9 in?
Am9 belongs to four keys: C major (vi9), G major (ii9), A minor (i9) and E minor (iv9).
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