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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Bm9 chord on guitar

Bm9 (B minor 9th) has five notes: B, D, F♯, A and C♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Bm9

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

Bm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7. 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 2

    ××R♭79BDAC♯
  • E shape · fret 7

    7fr×R♭7♭359BADF♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Bm9 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 Bm9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♭3essential
  3. F♯5optional
  4. A♭7essential
  5. C♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯AC♯DF♯AC♯DF♯ADF♯AC♯DAC♯DF♯AC♯DF♯AC♯DF♯AC♯DF♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Bm9 often leads to E7 and then A: the ii9–V7–I of A major.

Keys

Keys with Bm9

Bm9 belongs to four keys: D major (vi9), A major (ii9), B minor (i9) and F♯ 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

Bm9 over another bass note

A keeps Bm9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Bm9/D

    Bm9 with its ♭3rd, D, in the bass.

  • Bm9/F♯

    Bm9 with its 5th, F♯, in the bass.

  • Bm9/A

    Bm9 with its ♭7th, A, in the bass.

Questions

Bm9, in short

What notes are in the Bm9 chord?
Bm9 (B minor 9th) has five notes: B, D, F♯, A and C♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Bm9 on guitar?
Bm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7.
What key is Bm9 in?
Bm9 belongs to four keys: D major (vi9), A major (ii9), B minor (i9) and F♯ minor (iv9).
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