Tools / Chords / A minor 9th

A minor 9th chord on guitar (Am9)

Also written Am9 or A

A minor 9th contains A, C, E, G and B. The 5th-fret barre demands a wide stretch between the index barre and the pinky on the high E string.

5th fret5-7-5-5-5-7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

A1Root

C♭3Minor 3rd

E5Perfect 5th

G♭7Minor 7th

B99th

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–BAm9Bass A

First inversionC–E–G–B–AAm9/CBass C

Second inversionE–G–B–A–CAm9/EBass E

Third inversionG–B–A–C–EAm9/GBass G

Fourth inversionB–A–C–E–GAm9/BBass B

Why it sounds like that

A minor 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9. The added 9th, B, is what separates it from A minor 7th. The ♭7, G, keeps the chord from sounding like a plain minor add 9.

What goes wrong with A minor 9th?

The B string buzzes because the index barre is not pressing hard enough at the 5th fret.
The high E string sounds dead when the pinky does not arch high enough over the B string.

When to use it

A minor 9th is the vi chord in C major, appearing in the I–V–vi–IV progression C–G–Am–F. It suits jazz, neo-soul and slow blues where the 9th adds colour over the minor 7th.

Changing to and from A minor 9th

Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives G minor 9th.
Sliding the shape up one fret to the 6th fret gives B♭ minor 9th.

Which voicing to use

The 5th-fret voicing has A in the bass and is the default grip. The Am9/C inversion, with C in the bass, softens the root and works when the bass player is already holding A.

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

5th fret

Barre● On the diagram

A minor 9th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 5 5 5 7: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the A string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7.

Tip — The index barre must fret the low E and the B string cleanly while the pinky reaches the 7th fret on the high E.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Am9/C inversion · open position

Beginner

A minor 9th is played in open position as × 3 2 2 0 3: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The B string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Am9/C inversion · fret 7

Barre

A minor 9th is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 7 9 8 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the low E string at fret 8, pinky finger on the G string at fret 9 and ring finger on the B string at fret 8.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Am9/E inversion

Beginner

A minor 9th is played in open position as 0 3 2 2 0 3: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E and B strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Am9/G inversion

Beginner

A minor 9th is played in open position as 3 3 2 2 0 0: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2. The B and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is A minor 9th written?

A minor 9th is written Am9 or A minor 9th. The symbol Am9 is the most common shorthand.

What is the difference between A minor 9th and A minor 7th?

A minor 9th adds the 9th, B, to the A minor 7th notes A, C, E and G. The 9th creates a more colourful, jazz-oriented sound.

Can I play A minor 9th without the barre?

Yes, the Am9/C inversion at the 3rd fret uses open strings and no barre. It has C in the bass, so it works well when the bass player covers the root.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

A (1)

5 (A)

E (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

G (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

C (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

E (5)

1 (e)

B (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (♭3)

4 (D)

E (5)

3 (G)

A (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (9)

1 (e)

G (♭7)

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)

open

—

E (5)

5 (A)

C (♭3)

4 (D)

E (5)

3 (G)

A (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (9)

1 (e)

G (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (♭7)

5 (A)

C (♭3)

4 (D)

E (5)

3 (G)

A (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (9)

1 (e)

open

—

E (5)