Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Chord
A Minor Ninth Chord (Am9)
Velvety, moody and smooth. A minor seventh chord with a major ninth: the signature sound of neo-soul and smooth jazz.
- Am9
- 5 notes
- x02413
1Composition: what it contains
A – C – E – G – B
- Symbol
- Am9
- Also written
- Am9, Amin9, A-9, Ami9
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | unison | 0 |
| ♭3 | C | minor third | 3 |
| 5 | E | perfect fifth | 7 |
| ♭7 | G | minor seventh | 10 |
| 9 | B | major ninth | 14 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
On the guitar
x02413open position
575557fret 5
x-12-10-12-12-xfret 10On the ukulele
4030open position
14-12-15-14fret 12On 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 · Am9/C · C – E – G – B – A
- Inversion 2 · Am9/E · E – G – B – A – C
- Inversion 3 · Am9/G · G – B – A – C – E
- Inversion 4 · Am9/B · B – A – C – E – G
Scales to play over Am9
7Other presentations available
The same chord from every note
Cm9 C♯m9 Dm9 E♭m9 Em9 Fm9 F♯m9 Gm9 A♭m9 B♭m9 Bm9
Other chords on A
A Am Adim Aaug Asus2 Asus4 A5 A6 Am6 A7 Amaj7 Am7 Am7♭5 Adim7 Am(maj7) A7sus4 Aadd9 Am(add9) A6/9 A9 Amaj9 A11 Am11 A13 A7♭9 A7♯9 A7♯5 A7♭5
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.