Tools / Chords / G minor 9th

G minor 9th chord on guitar (Gm9)

Also written Gm9 or G

G minor 9th contains G, B♭, D, F and A. The open position uses three fretted notes and three open strings, with the root on the low E string.

Open · F on top3-0-0-3-3-1

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B♭♭3Minor 3rd

D5Perfect 5th

F♭7Minor 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–AGm9Bass G

First inversionB♭–D–F–A–GGm9/B♭Bass B♭

Second inversionD–F–A–G–B♭Gm9/DBass D

Third inversionF–A–G–B♭–DGm9/FBass F

Fourth inversionA–G–B♭–D–FGm9/ABass A

Why it sounds like that

G minor 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9. The minor 3rd between G and B♭ gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 2nd from G to A adds the ninth. Compare it with G minor 7th, which omits the ninth.

What goes wrong with G minor 9th?

Let the pinky touch the 1st string, muting the fretted F.
Flatten the ring finger onto the 4th string, muting the open D.
Strum too hard, causing the open A string to overpower the root.

When to use it

G minor 9th works as the vi chord in B♭ major, as in the progression B♭–F–G minor–E♭, the I–V–vi–IV. Use it in jazz or neo-soul for a smooth, dark color. It also substitutes for G minor when you want the added ninth.

Changing to and from G minor 9th

From G minor 9th to G minor 7th, lift the pinky and play the 2nd string open; the other fingers stay put.
Sliding the 3rd-fret barre shape up two frets to the 5th fret gives A minor 9th.

Which voicing to use

The open position keeps G in the bass for a root-position sound. The Gm9/B♭ inversion at the 5th fret puts the minor 3rd in the bass, softening the chord. Choose the Gm9/F inversion at the 1st fret when you want the ♭7 in the bass for a more suspended feel.

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

Open · F on top

Beginner● On the diagram

G minor 9th is played in open position as 3 0 0 3 3 1: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the B string at fret 3 and index finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A and D strings ring open.

Tip — The open position requires the pinky to fret the 2nd string at the 3rd fret while the 1st string is fretted at the 1st fret, which can cause accidental muting.

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)	3	3	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	3	4	D (5)
1 (e)	1	1	F (♭7)

Open · D on top

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

3rd fret

Barre

G minor 9th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 3 3 5: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Gm9/B♭ inversion

Barre

G minor 9th is played at the 5th fret as 6 5 5 7 6 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the low E string at fret 6, pinky finger on the G string at fret 7 and ring finger on the B string at fret 6.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Gm9/F inversion

Beginner

G minor 9th is played in open position as 1 0 0 3 3 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and D strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

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

G minor 9th includes the ♭7 (F), while G minor add 9 omits the ♭7. The add 9 chord has a more open, less jazzy sound.

Can G minor 9th be played as a barre chord?

Yes, the 3rd-fret barre shape is the same voicing moved up. It is easier to slide but requires a full barre.

Why does G minor 9th sound darker than G minor 7th?

The added ninth (A) creates a major 2nd against the root, adding a subtle tension that the minor 7th lacks.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

F (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

D (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

A (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

B♭ (♭3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

D (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

G (1)

3 (G)

D (5)

2 (B)

F (♭7)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

A (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (♭7)

5 (A)

open

—

A (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

G (1)