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Guitar chords · Dominant 9th

E9 chord on guitar

E9 (E 9th) has five notes: E, G♯, B, D and F♯, the , 3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play E9

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

E9 has an , and one : the A shape at 7. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    539EBDG♯BF♯
  • A shape · fret 7

    6fr×R3♭795EG♯DF♯B
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes E9 dominant 9th

A 9th chord is a chord with the 9th stacked on top. It keeps the 's pull to the chord a 5th below but sounds fuller and smoother: the sound of funk, soul and the blues. 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 E9 a 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. ERroot
  2. G♯3essential
  3. B5optional
  4. D♭7essential
  5. F♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯G♯BDF♯BDF♯G♯BDF♯G♯BDG♯BDF♯G♯BDF♯G♯BDF♯G♯BDF♯
  • E, the root
  • Other chord tones

E9 usually resolves to A or Am, the chord a 5th below: the V9–I move.

Keys

Keys with E9

E9 belongs to two keys: A major (V9) and F♯ minor (VII9).

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

E9 over another bass note

A keeps E9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • E9/G♯

    E9 with its 3rd, G♯, in the bass.

  • E9/B

    E9 with its 5th, B, in the bass.

  • E9/D

    E9 with its ♭7th, D, in the bass.

Questions

E9, in short

What notes are in the E9 chord?
E9 (E 9th) has five notes: E, G♯, B, D and F♯, the , 3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play E9 on guitar?
E9 has an , and one : the A shape at 7.
What key is E9 in?
E9 belongs to two keys: A major (V9) and F♯ minor (VII9).
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