Which notes are in the A9 chord?

A9 contains the notes A, C#, E, G and B. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9.

How many ways can you play A9?

Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for A9, 1 of which is a barre shape. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.

Is the A9 chord hard to play?

A9 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

A dominant 9th · Guitar

A9 Chord on Guitar

The A9 chord (A dominant 9th) is built from the notes A, C#, E, G and B. 2 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below.

Chord diagrams

Position 1starts at fret 6

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): muted
string 4 (D): fret 7 — middle finger
string 3 (G): fret 6 — index finger
string 2 (B): fret 8 — little finger
string 1 (E): fret 7 — ring finger

Position 2barre shape · starts at fret 11

Fingering

string 6 (E): muted
string 5 (A): fret 12 — middle finger
string 4 (D): fret 11 — index finger
string 3 (G): fret 12 — ring finger
string 2 (B): fret 12 — ring finger
string 1 (E): fret 12 — ring finger

Notes in this chord

A
C♯
E
G
B

Degrees: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9

How to play

Every guitar shape for A9 needs a barre, and the lowest one starts at fret 6. Keep the index finger straight and as close to the fret wire as possible, and let the wrist rather than the thumb supply the pressure.

Theory behind the chord

Dominant ninth chords extend the dominant seventh with a ninth on top. They keep the pull of a seventh chord but sound fuller and more coloured, which is why funk and soul rhythm parts lean on them. On A9 this structure sits on the root A, so the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9 map onto A, C#, E, G and B.

Frequently asked questions

Which notes are in the A9 chord?: A9 contains the notes A, C#, E, G and B. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9.
How many ways can you play A9?: Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for A9, 1 of which is a barre shape. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
Is the A9 chord hard to play?: A9 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

Practise A9 on your phone

Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.