A flat Minor Ninth Chord (A♭m9)

1Composition: what it contains

A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭

Symbol

A♭m9

Also written

A♭m9, A♭min9, A♭-9, A♭mi9

Formula

1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9

Same sound as

G♯m9

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

On the ukulele

On the piano

On the staff

On bass and as an arpeggio

3Indications: what it is used for

Used as the ii9 in a ii–V–I, as a minor tonic in Dorian-based funk, soul, neo-soul, R&B, fusion and lo-fi, and on vamps in modal jazz. It is a richer replacement for a minor seventh when the melody does not hold the flat second. Dorian is the usual scale, though Aeolian also works. Pianists love it in rootless voicings; guitarists use it in funk and jazz comping. It also appears as the vi9 chord in soulful pop ballads.

4Dosage: how to practise it

On guitar, learn the shape rooted on the fifth string and the shape rooted on the sixth string with the fifth muted. On piano, play rootless voicings (♭3-5-♭7-9 and ♭7-9-♭3-5) in the left hand and practise ii9–V13–Imaj9. Work at 70–110 BPM with a laid-back feel. Arpeggiate the five chord tones on bass or guitar. Ten minutes daily. Practise a two-chord Dorian vamp (m9 to the dominant thirteenth a fourth higher), focusing on soft dynamics and smooth voice leading.

5Warnings and common mistakes

Do not confuse m9 with madd9 (no seventh). The ninth is major (a whole step above the root), not flat; a flat ninth over a minor seventh chord sounds wrong except in Phrygian settings. On guitar, the fifth is usually omitted. Avoid the ninth in low registers. In a minor key where the tonic uses natural minor, check that the ninth fits the melody.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Inversions

• Inversion 1 · A♭m9/C♭ · C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – A♭ Play
• Inversion 2 · A♭m9/E♭ · E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – A♭ – C♭ Play
• Inversion 3 · A♭m9/G♭ · G♭ – B♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ Play
• Inversion 4 · A♭m9/B♭ · B♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – G♭ Play

Scales to play over A♭m9

• G sharp Natural Minor Scale
• G sharp Dorian Mode

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

Cm9 C♯m9 Dm9 E♭m9 Em9 Fm9 F♯m9 Gm9 Am9 B♭m9 Bm9

Other chords on A♭

A♭ A♭m A♭dim A♭aug A♭sus2 A♭sus4 A♭5 A♭6 A♭m6 A♭7 A♭maj7 A♭m7 A♭m7♭5 A♭dim7 A♭m(maj7) A♭7sus4 A♭add9 A♭m(add9) A♭6/9 A♭9 A♭maj9 A♭11 A♭m11 A♭13 A♭7♭9 A♭7♯9 A♭7♯5 A♭7♭5