A9 Guitar Chord
A9 is a dominant ninth chord. It stacks a major ninth on top of a dominant seventh chord and is a staple of funk and blues. Its notes are A, C#, E, G and B. Below are 2 ways to play it, each with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in A9
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| A | R | Root |
| C# | 3 | Major 3rd |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th |
| B | 9 | Major 9th |
Formula: 1–3–5–b7–9
A9 chord shapes
Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.
Open
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 0 2 4 2 3
- Fingers
- – – 1 4 2 3
E-shape 5fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- 5 7 5 6 5 7
- Fingers
- 1 3 1 2 1 4
How to play A9 (easiest shape)
Shape: Open, tab x 0 2 4 2 3 (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your index finger (1) on the 4th string at the 2nd fret.
- 2Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd string at the 2nd fret.
- 3Put your ring finger (3) on the 1st string at the 3rd fret.
- 4Put your pinky (4) on the 3rd string at the 4th fret.
- 5Let the 5th string ring open.
- 6Don't play the 6th string.
- 7Strum down from the 5th string to the 1st string.
A9: common questions
- What notes are in the A9 chord?
- A9 has 5 notes: A, C#, E, G and B. Counted from the root, that is 1–3–5–b7–9.
- Is there an easier way to play A9?
- The easiest shape on this page is "Open" (x 0 2 4 2 3). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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