D9 Guitar Chord
D9 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 D, F#, A, C and E. Below are 2 ways to play it, each with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in D9
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| D | R | Root |
| F# | 3 | Major 3rd |
| A | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| C | b7 | Minor 7th |
| E | 9 | Major 9th |
Formula: 1–3–5–b7–9
D9 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.
A-shape 5fr
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 5 4 5 5 x
- Fingers
- – 2 1 3 4 –
E-shape 10fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- 10 12 10 11 10 12
- Fingers
- 1 3 1 2 1 4
How to play D9 (easiest shape)
Shape: A-shape 5fr, tab x 5 4 5 5 x (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your index finger (1) on the 4th string at the 4th fret.
- 2Put your middle finger (2) on the 5th string at the 5th fret.
- 3Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd string at the 5th fret.
- 4Put your pinky (4) on the 2nd string at the 5th fret.
- 5Don't play the 6th string.
- 6Keep the 1st string quiet: stop your strum at the 2nd string, or let a fretting finger touch it lightly.
- 7Strum down from the 5th string to the 2nd string.
D9: common questions
- What notes are in the D9 chord?
- D9 has 5 notes: D, F#, A, C and E. Counted from the root, that is 1–3–5–b7–9.
- Is there an easier way to play D9?
- The easiest shape on this page is "A-shape 5fr" (x 5 4 5 5 x). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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See all 231 chords in the chord library, find a scale to play over them, or tune up before you start.