A9 Chord on Guitar
Notes A C♯ E G B. Start with A9 (x 0 2 4 2 3): index on string 4 fret 2, middle on string 2 fret 2, ring on string 1 fret 3, pinky on string 3 fret 4.
Chord · A9 dominant 9th
A9, open A string · x 0 2 4 2 3
open strings
A9, root on string 6 (fret 5) · 5 4 5 4 5 x
movable, no open strings
A9, root on string 5 (fret 12) · x 12 11 12 12 12
movable, no open strings
1 A3 C♯5 E♭7 G9 B
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 3
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 3 at fret 4
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 5
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 4
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 5
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 4
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- Barre: pinky finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 12
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 12
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 11
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 12
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 12
- String 1 (high e): pinky (4), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 3 | C♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | G | minor 7th |
| 9 | B | major 9th |
Formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9 (dominant 9th).
More on this chord type: Dominant 7th chords · 7th chords explained
Keys that contain A9
| Key | A9 is the |
|---|---|
| D major | V9 |
| B minor | VII9 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing A9: what goes wrong
A9 is A7 plus B
A9 is A, C♯, E, G and B: A7 with the 9th (B) added. In x 0 2 4 2 3 the B sits on string 3 at fret 4 and the G on string 1 at fret 3.
A9 leads to D
A9 is the V9 chord of D major. In a 12-bar blues in A you can play A9 in place of A7.
Barre version
5 4 5 4 5 x has A on string 6 and all five chord notes, with the index across strings 5 to 3 at fret 4. It is a full A9, but harder than x 0 2 4 2 3.
Related chords
Learn and practise A9
- Metronomepractise the change to A9 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in A9?
A, C♯, E, G, B: the 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9 of the A9 dominant 9th chord.
What is the difference between A7 and A9?
A9 adds B to A7: A, C♯, E, G, B. Both pull to D; the 9th makes A9 more colourful.