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F minor major 9th chord on guitar (FmMaj9)
Also called or written FmMaj9, Fminmaj9, FmM9, Fmin(maj9) or Fm(maj9)
F minor major 9th contains F, A♭, C, E and G. The 1st-fret voicing is a full barre with a pinky stretch to fret 3 on the high E.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionF–A♭–C–E–GFmMaj91-3-2-1-1-3
- First inversionA♭–C–E–G–FFmMaj9/A♭4-3-3-5-5-3
- Second inversionC–E–G–F–A♭FmMaj9/Cno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionE–G–F–A♭–CFmMaj9/E0-3-3-1-×-3
- Fourth inversionG–F–A♭–C–EFmMaj9/G3-3-2-1-1-1
How do you play an F minor major 9th chord on guitar?
F minor major 9th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 2 1 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D 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) | 2 | 2 | E (7) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the low E, G, B and high E at fret 1 while the pinky reaches fret 3 on the high E.
13th fret
F minor major 9th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 14 13 13 15: barre your index finger across fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the D 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) | 14 | 2 | E (7) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 15 | 4 | G (2) |
Fminmaj9/A♭ inversion
F minor major 9th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 3 3 5 5 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, middle finger on the low E string at fret 4, ring finger on the G string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 4 | E (7) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (2) |
Fminmaj9/E inversion
F minor major 9th is played in open position as 0 3 3 1 × 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E string rings open. The B string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (7) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
Fminmaj9/G inversion
F minor major 9th is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 2 1 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3 and middle finger on the D string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (2) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (7) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F minor major 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9. The major 7th E against the minor 3rd A♭ creates the chord's characteristic tension. Compare it to F minor major 7th, which omits the 9th G.
What goes wrong with F minor major 9th?
- Let the high E string buzz under the pinky at fret 3.
- Allow the middle finger to touch the G string, deadening the barre note at fret 1.
- Lift the index barre off the low E string, losing the root F.
When to use it
Use F minor major 9th in place of F minor for a more complex color. It suits jazz ballads and neo-soul progressions.
Changing to and from F minor major 9th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ minor major 9th.
- Move to F minor major 7th by lifting the pinky off the high E string and letting the B string ring at fret 1.
Which voicing to use
The 1st-fret voicing puts the root F in the bass for a grounded sound. The F minor major 9th/A♭ inversion at the 3rd fret places A♭ in the bass, softening the chord's bite. Choose the G inversion when you want the 9th in the bass for a floating, unresolved feel.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F minor major 9th written?
F minor major 9th is written FmM9, min(maj9), m(maj9), or Fminmaj9.
What is the difference between F minor major 9th and F minor add 9?
F minor add 9 contains F, A♭, C and G, omitting the major 7th E. F minor major 9th includes both the major 7th and the 9th, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.
Can F minor major 9th be used in a minor key?
F minor major 9th is the tonic chord in F harmonic minor and F melodic minor. The displayed shape preserves only the supplied notes and interval formula.