Tools / Chords / A♭ major 9th

A♭ major 9th chord on guitar (A♭maj9)

Also written A♭maj9 or A♭

A♭ major 9th contains A♭, C, E♭, G, and B♭. The 3rd fret shape is a full barre with a pinky stretch to fret 5.

3rd fret4-3-5-3-4-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

A♭1Root

C3Major 3rd

E♭5Perfect 5th

G7Major 7th

B♭99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionA♭–C–E♭–G–B♭A♭maj9Bass A♭

First inversionC–E♭–G–B♭–A♭A♭maj9/CBass C

Second inversionE♭–G–B♭–A♭–CA♭maj9/E♭Bass E♭

Third inversionG–B♭–A♭–C–E♭A♭maj9/GBass G

Fourth inversionB♭–A♭–C–E♭–GA♭maj9/B♭Bass B♭

Why it sounds like that

A♭ major 9th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. The major seventh interval gives it its characteristic lush sound. Compared with A♭ major 7th, the added ninth creates a more open, colorful voicing.

What goes wrong with A♭ major 9th?

The 3rd string buzzes because the index barre is not pressing hard enough.
The pinky on the 4th string accidentally mutes the 3rd string.
The high e string is deadened by the barre sliding out of place.

When to use it

A♭ major 9th works as the tonic in A♭ major, such as in the I–IV–V–I progression A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV progression A♭–E♭–F minor–D♭. Use it in jazz, soul, and R&B for a smooth, extended harmony.

Changing to and from A♭ major 9th

Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives F♯ major 9th.
From A♭ major, lift the pinky and add the barre to reach A♭ major 9th.

Which voicing to use

The 3rd fret shape has A♭ in the bass and is the most balanced voicing. The A♭maj9/C inversion at the 3rd fret puts C in the bass, giving a lighter, more suspended feel. For a higher register, use the 15th fret shape.

How do you play an A♭ major 9th chord on guitar?

3rd fret

Barre● On the diagram

A♭ major 9th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 3 5 3 4 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, middle finger on the low E string at fret 4, pinky finger on the D string at fret 5 and ring finger on the B string at fret 4.

Tip — The full barre at the 3rd fret must hold the A string and high e cleanly while the pinky reaches fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	4	2	A♭ (1)
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (3)
4 (D)	5	4	G (7)
3 (G)	3	1 (barre)	B♭ (9)
2 (B)	4	3	E♭ (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (7)

A♭maj9/C inversion · fret 3

Barre

A♭ major 9th is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 3 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 5, middle finger on the B string at fret 4 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 4. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (3)
4 (D)	5	4	G (7)
3 (G)	3	1 (barre)	B♭ (9)
2 (B)	4	2	E♭ (5)
1 (e)	4	3	A♭ (1)

A♭maj9/C inversion · fret 6

Barre

A♭ major 9th is played at the 6th fret as 8 6 6 8 8 6: barre your index finger across fret 6, middle finger on the low E string at fret 8, ring finger on the G string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 8.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	8	2	C (3)
5 (A)	6	1 (barre)	E♭ (5)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	A♭ (1)
3 (G)	8	3	E♭ (5)
2 (B)	8	4	G (7)
1 (e)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (9)

A♭maj9/C inversion · fret 8

Barre

A♭ major 9th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 8 8 9 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10 and ring finger on the B string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	8	1 (barre)	C (3)
5 (A)	10	4	G (7)
4 (D)	8	1 (barre)	B♭ (9)
3 (G)	8	1 (barre)	E♭ (5)
2 (B)	9	3	A♭ (1)
1 (e)	8	1 (barre)	C (3)

A♭maj9/G inversion

Barre

A♭ major 9th is played at the 1st fret as 3 1 1 1 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1, ring finger on the low E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	3	G (7)
5 (A)	1	1 (barre)	B♭ (9)
4 (D)	1	1 (barre)	E♭ (5)
3 (G)	1	1 (barre)	A♭ (1)
2 (B)	1	1 (barre)	C (3)
1 (e)	3	4	G (7)

Common questions

How is A♭ major 9th written?

A♭ major 9th is written as A♭ or A♭maj9. The ASCII root spelling is Ab. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

What is the difference between A♭ major 9th and A♭ add 9?

A♭ major 9th includes the major seventh (G), while A♭ add 9 does not. The add 9 chord is simply an A♭ major triad with the ninth added.

Can I play A♭ major 9th without the barre?

The 3rd fret shape requires a barre, but you can play the A♭maj9/C inversion at the 3rd fret, which uses a partial barre. It omits the low E string.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

A♭ (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (3)

4 (D)

G (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (9)

2 (B)

E♭ (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (3)

4 (D)

G (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (9)

2 (B)

E♭ (5)

1 (e)

A♭ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

C (3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E♭ (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

A♭ (1)

3 (G)

E♭ (5)

2 (B)

G (7)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B♭ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

C (3)

5 (A)

G (7)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

B♭ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

E♭ (5)

2 (B)

A♭ (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (7)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B♭ (9)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E♭ (5)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A♭ (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C (3)

1 (e)

G (7)