Bb9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - i - m - a - m - i · Smooth Bossa (2/4 · 6 notes · Level 2)
From the bass on the 5th to the 1st string there are 4 different notes. Six plucks give time to hear them. All 6 arpeggios
Subtle syncopation and oscillating timbre.
Bb9 is built from Bb, D, F, Ab and C. Bb is the root, D the major third, F the fifth, Ab the minor seventh and C the ninth. Said aloud, its notes are B flat, D, F, A flat and C.
From the low string to the high one you hear Bb, D, Ab, C and F. The lowest note is Bb on string 5 and the highest is F on string 1.
The main Bb9 shape needs a barre at fret 1 across three strings. In Bb9, string 4 is played open and adds D. String 6 is not played. Every finger presses at fret 1. The second shape on this page starts at fret 6.
From Bb9 to Bb7 only two strings change, 4 and 2. Bb9 holds the whole Fm chord inside it, F, Ab and C. Going to Bb, two positions stay the same.
Bb9 belongs to only one key, Eb major, where it is the V9.
Bb 1D 3F 5Ab ♭7C 9
Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 1 (Bb)
String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted
Placement tip: Barre fret 1. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Play open: 4th String (D). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Barre fret 6. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 8 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Middle finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger.
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | fret 1 |
| Barre | fret 1, from the 3rd to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 2 |
| Open | 4th |
| Muted | 6th |
At fret 1, only the barre sounds the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings.
The open 4th string sits next to a fretting finger.
Listen: Bb9 → Bb · F7 · F
Bb9 sits in the scale of 1 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Bb9 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.
The primary bass note of the Bb9 chord is its root note: Bb. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 1.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Bb9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9 formula (Dominant Ninth). Its constituent pitches are Bb, D, F, Ab, C.
To prevent fret buzz on the Bb9 barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
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