Bb9 Chord
Bb9 is a dominant seventh plus C, the ninth. Its full spelling has five different notes, so a practical guitar or ukulele grip may leave out a less essential chord tone.
- Notes: B flat-D-F-A flat-C
- Symbol: Bb9
- V9 in Eb major
- Seventh and ninth
Bb9
How to play a Bb9 chord
Notes: Bb - D - F - Ab - CBb9
Root position
Bb - D - F - Ab - C1st inversion
D - F - Ab - C - Bb2nd inversion
F - Ab - C - Bb - D3rd inversion
Ab - C - Bb - D - F
Where does Bb9 belong?
In Eb major, Bb9 extends the V7 chord before it resolves to the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- Dominant with a ninthV9
A V7 with the ninth on top: the same pull to Eb, a fuller sound.
EbAbBb9V9Eb - Funk and blues homeI9
In funk and blues this is a home chord that never has to resolve.
Bb9I9Eb9Bb9F9
Progressions to try
- EbAbBb9Eb
Bb9 is V9 in Eb major; its seventh keeps the dominant pull while the ninth adds another voice.
- Bb9Eb9Bb9F9
Treat the repeated Bb9 as a blues home chord, then hear the other ninth chords answer it.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, the open shape x1011x is the easiest place to start. The barre shape 686768, at the 6th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords.
On ukulele, start with 3243, played at the 2nd fret. 5865 gives a higher version.
On piano, spread the five-note spelling across both hands: B flat-D-F-A flat-C. Move B flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, D-F-A flat-C-B flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
The first four notes, B flat-D-F-A flat, form the dominant seventh. C adds the ninth.
- Root position: B flat-D-F-A flat-C, with B flat lowest.
- First inversion: D-F-A flat-C-B flat, written Bb9/D if D is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: F-A flat-C-B flat-D, written Bb9/F if F is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: A flat-C-B flat-D-F, written Bb9/Ab if A flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Fourth inversion: C-B flat-D-F-A flat, written Bb9/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Bb9 differ from Bb7?
Remove the ninth, C, and the remaining notes form Bb7. The seventh stays, so both chords can still pull toward the same tonic. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Bb7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Bb9
Bb - D - F - Ab - CBb7
Bb - D - F - Ab