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F 9th chord on guitar (F9)
Also called or written F9 or F
F 9th is built from F, A, C, E♭ and G. This advanced open position shape requires precise finger placement and a clean high e string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9
- Root positionF–A–C–E♭–GF91-0-1-0-1-1
- First inversionA–C–E♭–G–FF9/A×-0-1-0-1-1
- Second inversionC–E♭–G–F–AF9/Cno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionE♭–G–F–A–CF9/E♭×-6-5-5-6-5
- Fourth inversionG–F–A–C–E♭F9/G3-0-1-0-1-1
How do you play an F 9th chord on guitar?
F 9th is played in open position as 1 0 1 0 1 1: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 3 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 4 | F (1) |
AdvancedThe open position requires fretting four notes while leaving two strings open, which can cause accidental muting of the open strings.
Open · G on top
F 9th is played in open position as 1 0 1 0 1 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 3 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
1st fret
F 9th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 2 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
12th fret
F 9th is played at the 12th fret as 13 12 13 12 13 ×: barre your index finger across fret 12, middle finger on the low E string at fret 13, ring finger on the D string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 13. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 3 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 4 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
13th fret
F 9th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 13 14 13 15: barre your index finger across fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the G string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 15.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 15 | 3 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 2 | A (3) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 15 | 4 | G (2) |
Why it sounds like that
F 9th stacks an F major triad (1, 3, 5) with a minor seventh and a major ninth: 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9. The ♭7 E♭ and 9 G create a dominant sound. Compare it with F 7th, which omits the ninth.
What goes wrong with F 9th?
- Letting the index finger touch the open A string and deaden it.
- Not pressing the middle finger firmly on the D string, causing a buzz at fret 1.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the open G string and mute it.
When to use it
F 9th acts as the dominant in B♭ major, used in progressions like B♭–E♭–F–B♭ (I–IV–V–I). It suits blues, rock and jazz-funk. Compare it with F major to hear how the seventh and ninth add tension.
Changing to and from F 9th
- Move to F major by lifting the pinky to leave the high e string open.
Which voicing to use
The open position voicing is the most practical, with F in the bass. Higher fret voicings at the 12th and 13th frets offer a brighter, more compact sound for ensemble playing.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 9th written?
F 9th is written as F9. The symbol F9 always means a dominant ninth chord with a minor seventh and a major ninth.
What is the difference between F 9th and F add 9?
F 9th includes the minor seventh E♭, while F add 9 is an F major triad with the ninth G added and no seventh. The add 9 sounds more open and less tense.
Why does the open position have no muted strings?
The open position uses all six strings, and every open string is a chord tone. The open A string is the third, and the open G string is the ninth.