Fm9 Guitar Chord

Fm9 is a minor ninth chord. It adds a major ninth to a minor seventh chord for a smooth sound heard a lot in soul and jazz. Its notes are F, Ab, C, Eb and G. Below is one way to play it, with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.

Notes in Fm9

NoteDegreeInterval
FRRoot
Abb3Minor 3rd
C5Perfect 5th
Ebb7Minor 7th
G9Major 9th

Formula: 1–b3–5–b7–9

Fm9 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.

  • E-shape 1fr

    Easiest
    131114
    Tab (6th → 1st string)
    1 3 1 1 1 3
    Fingers
    1 3 1 1 1 4

How to play Fm9 (easiest shape)

Shape: E-shape 1fr, tab 1 3 1 1 1 3 (6th to 1st string).

131114
  1. 1Lay your index finger (1) flat across the 6th to 2nd strings at the 1st fret (a barre).
  2. 2Put your ring finger (3) on the 5th string at the 3rd fret.
  3. 3Put your pinky (4) on the 1st string at the 3rd fret.
  4. 4Strum down from the 6th string to the 1st string.

Fm9: common questions

What notes are in the Fm9 chord?
Fm9 has 5 notes: F, Ab, C, Eb and G. Counted from the root, that is 1–b3–5–b7–9.
Is there an easier way to play Fm9?
The easiest shape on this page is "E-shape 1fr" (1 3 1 1 1 3). Every shape on this page is a barre chord. Barre shapes are movable: keep the same hand shape and slide it along the neck to play this type of chord from other roots.

Same chord type, other roots

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