Amaj9 Guitar Chord | How To Create and Play the A Major Ninth chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the A maj9 chord, a beautiful and rich sounding chord that belongs to the Major Chords family. The A maj9 chord is composed of the notes A, C#, E, G#, and B. These notes are derived from the musical intervals 1 (Root), 3 (Major Third), 5 (Perfect Fifth), 7 (Major Seventh), and 9 (Major Ninth).
Understanding the intervals that compose this chord is crucial for mastering it. If you're not familiar with these terms, you may want to check out our tutorial about fretboard intervals and our tutorial on how to denote chords depending on the intervals that compose them.
The A maj9 chord, like all ninth chords, extends beyond the octave, making it a bit more complex and interesting. If you're new to ninth chords, our tutorial about ninth (9) guitar chords can be a helpful resource.
Building chords like the A maj9 involves stacking intervals, a concept that is explained in our tutorial that teaches how to build chords by stacking intervals. This tutorial will give you a deeper understanding of how chords are constructed, which can help you master the A maj9 chord and other complex chords.
Once you have mastered the A maj9 chord, you can start incorporating it into chord progressions. For inspiration, check out our tutorial about jazz chord progressions, which often use the maj7, m7, and 7 chord types, and our tutorial about the most common chord progressions that teaches how to put chords together to create songs.
We hope this introduction has sparked your interest in the A maj9 chord. Stay tuned for the rest of this tutorial, where we will provide chord diagrams and fretboard patterns showing the tones composing the chord.
Notes of the A maj9 chord:
How to create the Major Ninth chord:
Guitar Patterns for the Amaj9 chord
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If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Open
Position 2
Open
Position 3
Barre
Open
Position 4
Barre
Movable
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FAQ
What specific notes are included in an A maj9 chord?
The A maj9 chord is composed of the notes A, C#, E, G#, and B. These are derived directly from the root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth intervals.
What do the interval numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 represent in the A maj9 chord?
For the A maj9 chord, these numbers represent its core intervals: 1 is the Root (A), 3 is the Major Third (C#), 5 is the Perfect Fifth (E), 7 is the Major Seventh (G#), and 9 is the Major Ninth (B). Each interval adds a specific harmonic color to the chord.
Why is the A maj9 chord described as 'extending beyond the octave'?
The A maj9 chord extends beyond the octave because it includes a Major Ninth interval (B relative to A). This ninth is essentially the second note of the scale played an octave higher than the root, which means the chord uses notes spanning more than a single eight-note range.
How does the A maj9 chord acquire its 'major' quality and its 'rich' sound?
The 'major' quality of the A maj9 chord comes from its Major Third (C#) and Major Seventh (G#) intervals. Its 'rich' and 'beautiful' sound is attributed to the combination of these major qualities with the added complexity and harmonic color provided by the Major Ninth (B) interval, making it a five-note chord that extends harmonically.
What is the primary difference between an A major triad, an A maj7 chord, and an A maj9 chord?
An A major triad contains the Root (A), Major Third (C#), and Perfect Fifth (E). An A maj7 chord builds on this by adding the Major Seventh (G#). The A maj9 chord further expands upon the A maj7 by adding the Major Ninth (B), making it a more complex chord with five distinct notes.