Tools / Chords / G minor major 9th

G minor major 9th chord on guitar (GmMaj9)

Also written GmMaj9, Gminmaj9 or GmM9

G minor major 9th contains G, B♭, D, F♯ and A. The open voicing uses open strings and a pinky stretch to fret 3 on the B string.

Open3-0-0-3-3-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

B♭♭3Minor 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♯–AGmMaj9Bass G

First inversionB♭–D–F♯–A–GGmMaj9/B♭Bass B♭

Second inversionD–F♯–A–G–B♭GmMaj9/DBass D

Third inversionF♯–A–G–B♭–DGmMaj9/F♯Bass F♯

Fourth inversionA–G–B♭–D–F♯GmMaj9/ABass A

Why it sounds like that

G minor major 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9. The major 7th F♯ against the minor 3rd B♭ creates the chord's characteristic tension. Compare it to G minor major 7th, which omits the 9th A.

What goes wrong with G minor major 9th?

Let the pinky touch the high E string, deadening the note at fret 2.
Allow the ring finger to flatten onto the B string, causing a buzz at fret 3.
Let the middle finger mute the A string, losing the open A.

When to use it

Use G minor major 9th in place of G minor for a more complex color. It suits jazz ballads and neo-soul progressions.

Changing to and from G minor major 9th

Move to G minor major 7th by lifting the pinky off the B string and letting it ring open.
Slide the 3rd-fret barre voicing down one fret to the 2nd fret for F♯ minor major 9th.

Which voicing to use

The open voicing puts the root G in the bass via the low E string. The G minor major 9th/B♭ inversion at the 5th fret places B♭ in the bass, softening the chord's bite. Choose the A inversion when you want the 9th in the bass for a floating, unresolved feel.

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

G minor major 9th is played in open position as 3 0 0 3 3 2: 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 2. The A and D strings ring open.

Tip — The pinky must fret the B string at fret 3 cleanly while the high E string is fretted at fret 2 and the A and D strings ring open.

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)	2	1	F♯ (7)

3rd fret

Barre

G minor major 9th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 4 3 3 5: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5, middle finger on the D string at fret 4 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)	4	2	F♯ (7)
3 (G)	3	1 (barre)	B♭ (♭3)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	5	4	A (9)

Gminmaj9/B♭ inversion

Barre

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

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	3	D (5)
2 (B)	7	4	F♯ (7)
1 (e)	5	1 (barre)	A (9)

Gminmaj9/F♯ inversion

Beginner

G minor major 9th is played in open position as 2 0 0 3 3 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, 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)	2	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)

Gminmaj9/A inversion

Barre

G minor major 9th is played at the 3rd fret as 5 5 4 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the low E string at fret 5, pinky finger on the A string at fret 5 and middle finger on the D string at fret 4.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is G minor major 9th written?

G minor major 9th is written GmM9, min(maj9), m(maj9), or Gminmaj9.

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

G minor add 9 contains G, B♭, D and A, omitting the major 7th F♯. G minor major 9th includes both the major 7th and the 9th, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.

Can G minor major 9th be used in a minor key?

G minor major 9th is the tonic chord in G harmonic minor and G melodic minor. It is not diatonic to G natural minor, which has a minor 7th F instead of F♯.

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)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

D (5)

4 (D)

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)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

A (9)

5 (A)

D (5)

4 (D)

F♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B♭ (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)