Tools / Chords / G major 9th

G major 9th chord on guitar (Gmaj9)

Also written Gmaj9 or G

Guitar · Open · 3-0-0-0-0-2

G major 9th contains G, B, D, F♯, and A. The open voicing uses a mix of fretted and open strings, requiring careful finger placement.

Open · 3-0-0-0-0-23-0-0-0-0-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B3Major 3rd

D5Perfect 5th

F♯7Major 7th

A99th

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 positionG–B–D–F♯–AGmaj9Bass G

First inversionB–D–F♯–A–GGmaj9/BBass B

Second inversionD–F♯–A–G–BGmaj9/DBass D

Third inversionF♯–A–G–B–DGmaj9/F♯Bass F♯

Fourth inversionA–G–B–D–F♯Gmaj9/ABass A

Why it sounds like that

G major 9th is built from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the G major scale. The major 7th F♯ and the 9th A give it a bright, airy quality. Compare it to G major 7th, which omits the 9th.

What goes wrong with G major 9th?

Letting the middle finger touch the 5th string, deadening the 5th.
Flattening the index finger onto the 2nd string, muffling the open B.
Strumming too hard, causing the low G to overpower the chord.

When to use it

G major 9th serves as the I chord in G major, fitting progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). Its bright, open sound suits folk, country, and pop. It also works over G major and G major 7th.

Changing to and from G major 9th

Move to <a href="/guitar/c-major-chord">C major</a> by shifting the middle finger to the 5th string, 3rd fret, and adding the ring finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret.

Which voicing to use

The open voicing keeps G in the bass for a warm, root-position sound. The 2nd-fret barre voicing offers a higher register with the same root in the bass. The Gmaj9/B inversion puts the third in the bass, creating a brighter, less settled feel.

How do you play a G major 9th chord on guitar?

Open · 3-0-0-0-0-2

Beginner● On the diagram

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

Tip — Fretting the 6th and 1st strings while leaving the middle four strings open requires precise finger placement and light touch.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Open · 3-0-0-2-0-2

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

Open · 3-2-0-2-0-2

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

2nd fret

Barre

G major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 2 4 2 3 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 4 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Gmaj9/B inversion

Barre

G major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as × 2 4 2 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 4, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is G major 9th written?

G major 9th is written G or Gmaj9. No enharmonic spelling is used.

What is the difference between G major 9th and G add 9?

G major 9th includes the major 7th F♯ along with the 9th A. G add 9 omits the 7th, giving a less dense sound.

Why does the open shape use both fretted and open strings?

The open strings provide the 5th D and the 9th A, while the fretted notes add the root, 3rd, and 7th. This creates a full, ringing voicing.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

F♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

A (9)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

F♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

B (3)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

A (9)

2 (B)

open

—

B (3)

1 (e)

F♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (3)

4 (D)

F♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A (9)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (3)

4 (D)

F♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A (9)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

G (1)