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A minor major 9th chord on guitar (AmMaj9)
Also called or written AmMaj9, Aminmaj9, AmM9, Amin(maj9) or Am(maj9)
A minor major 9th contains A, C, E, G♯ and B. The 5th-fret voicing is a full barre with a pinky stretch to fret 7 on the high E.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionA–C–E–G♯–BAmMaj95-7-6-5-5-7
- First inversionC–E–G♯–B–AAmMaj9/C8-7-7-9-9-7
- Second inversionE–G♯–B–A–CAmMaj9/Eno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionG♯–B–A–C–EAmMaj9/G♯no shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionB–A–C–E–G♯AmMaj9/B7-7-6-5-5-5
How do you play an A minor major 9th chord on guitar?
A minor major 9th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 6 5 5 7: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 2 | G♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 4 | B (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the low E, G, B and high E at fret 5 while the pinky reaches fret 7 on the high E.
Aminmaj9/C inversion
A minor major 9th is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 7 9 9 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the low E string at fret 8, ring finger on the G string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 9.
Full note and interval 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 | 3 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (2) |
Aminmaj9/B inversion · fret 5
A minor major 9th is played at the 5th fret as 7 7 6 5 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the low E string at fret 7, pinky finger on the A string at fret 7 and middle finger on the D string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (2) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 2 | G♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
Aminmaj9/B inversion · fret 7
A minor major 9th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 7 9 9 8: barre your index finger across fret 7, ring finger on the G string at fret 9, pinky finger on the B string at fret 9 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (2) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 4 | G♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 2 | C (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
A minor major 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9. The major 7th G♯ against the minor 3rd C gives this chord its tense, unresolved quality. Compare it to A minor major 7th, which omits the 9th B.
What goes wrong with A minor major 9th?
- Let the high E string buzz under the pinky at fret 7.
- Allow the middle finger to touch the G string, deadening the barre note at fret 5.
- Lift the index barre off the low E string, losing the root A.
When to use it
Use A minor major 9th in place of A minor when you want a darker, more sophisticated sound. It suits jazz ballads and neo-soul progressions.
Changing to and from A minor major 9th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives G minor major 9th.
- Move to A minor major 7th by lifting the pinky off the high E string and letting the B string ring at fret 5.
Which voicing to use
The 5th-fret voicing puts the root A in the bass for a grounded sound. The A minor major 9th/C inversion at the 7th fret places C in the bass, softening the chord's bite. Choose the B inversion when you want the 9th in the bass for a floating, unresolved feel.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A minor major 9th written?
A minor major 9th is written AmM9, min(maj9), m(maj9), or Aminmaj9.
What is the difference between A minor major 9th and A minor add 9?
A minor add 9 contains A, C, E and B, omitting the major 7th G♯. A minor major 9th includes both the major 7th and the 9th, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.
Can A minor major 9th be used in a minor key?
A minor major 9th is the tonic chord in A harmonic minor and A melodic minor. It is not diatonic to A natural minor, which has a minor 7th G instead of G♯.