Ninth chord

The ninth chord (9) – chord chart, construction, intervals, symbols and examples.

Table of contents:

• Ninth chord chart
• Ninth chord intervals
• Ninth chord symbols
• Ninth chord construction
• Ninth chord no root/no 5th

Ninth chord chart

Examples of ninth chords. Chord chart with some examples of common 9th chords for the guitar. Ninth chord diagrams.

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Ninth chord intervals

The intervals a ninth chord are built of.

A ninth chord consist of the intervals: perfect unison, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and ninth.

Chord formula: 1, 3, 5, b7, 9.

Note! The interval ninth (9) represents the same note as the major second (2) interval, but the ninth is an octave – 12 semitones – higher in pitch.

It’s common practice to remove the 5th, the root or both and still call it a nint chord:

• Chord formula 9no5: 1, 3, b7, 9.
• Chord formula 9noRoot: 3, 5, b7, 9.

Ninth chord symbols

The chord symbol of a ninth chord.

Symbol: 9.

Examples: A9, C9, E9.

Ninth chord construction

How a ninth chord is constructed.

By adding the interval ninth to a dominant seventh chord we get a 9th chord.

A ninth chord is constructed by adding a major third on top of the minor seventh of the dominant seventh chord.

The new interval – minor seventh (7) + major third (3) – is equal to the interval ninth (9).

The major ninth chord in thirds: major third (3) + minor third (b3) + minor third (b3) + major third (3):

1. 3 + b3 -> major triad chord.
2. 3 + b3 + b3 -> dominant seventh chord.
3. 3 + b3 + b3 + 3 -> ninth chord.

The interval ninth (9) represents the same note as the major second (2) interval but the ninth is an octave – 12 semitones – higher in pitch.

Let’s add a ninth to a dominant seventh chord: C7 -> C9!

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Ninth chord no root/no 5th

Ninth chord without the root and/or the 5th interval.

It’s common practice to remove the root (1) and/or the fifth (5) from the ninth chord.

Here we remove the fifth from the ninth chord. The chord becomes easier to finger but still sounds good!

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