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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Gm9 chord on guitar

Gm9 (G minor 9th) has five notes: G, B♭, D, F and A, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Gm9

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

Gm9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 3 or the A shape at fret 10. 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 3

    3fr×R♭7♭359GFB♭DA
  • A shape · fret 10

    8fr××R♭3♭79GB♭FA
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Gm9 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 Gm9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. GRroot
  2. B♭♭3essential
  3. D5optional
  4. F♭7essential
  5. A9essential
EADGBE0135791215GGGGGGGGGFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DFAB♭DF
  • G, the root
  • Other chord tones

Gm9 often leads to C7 and then F: the ii9–V7–I of F major.

Keys

Keys with Gm9

Gm9 belongs to four keys: B♭ major (vi9), F major (ii9), G minor (i9) and D 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

Gm9 over another bass note

A keeps Gm9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Gm9/B♭

    Gm9 with its ♭3rd, B♭, in the bass.

  • Gm9/D

    Gm9 with its 5th, D, in the bass.

  • Gm9/F

    Gm9 with its ♭7th, F, in the bass.

Questions

Gm9, in short

What notes are in the Gm9 chord?
Gm9 (G minor 9th) has five notes: G, B♭, D, F and A, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Gm9 on guitar?
Gm9 has no common . Play it as the E shape at 3 or the A shape at fret 10.
What key is Gm9 in?
Gm9 belongs to four keys: B♭ major (vi9), F major (ii9), G minor (i9) and D minor (iv9).
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