Bb Major Ninth (Bbmaj9) chords on guitar
Welcome to our tutorial on the Bb maj9 chord, a beautiful and complex chord belonging to the Major Chords family. This chord is composed of the notes Bb, D, F, A, and C and is built using the intervals of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Understanding these intervals and how they stack to create this chord is key to mastering it, and we have a great tutorial that teaches how to build chords by stacking intervals that can help you with that.
Each of these intervals has a name: the root (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5), major seventh (7), and major ninth (9). If you're unfamiliar with these terms, we recommend checking out our tutorial about fretboard intervals.
Playing the Bb maj9 chord can be a bit more advanced than beginner chords, but don't worry, we'll provide you with clear chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to make learning this chord as straightforward as possible. For more advanced chords like this one, you might find our tutorial about intermediate guitar chords useful.
Finally, the Bb maj9 chord is often used in jazz chord progressions. If you're interested in exploring this genre further, our tutorial about jazz chord progressions is a great resource. Happy strumming!
Notes in the Bb maj9 chord:
Formula of the Major Ninth chord:
Bb Major Ninth Guitar Chord Fingers Positions
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
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
Barre
Movable
Position 3
Barre
Movable
Position 4
Barre
Movable
Position 5
Barre
Movable
Position 6
Barre
Movable
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FAQ
What are the specific notes that form a Bbmaj9 chord?
The Bbmaj9 chord is built from five distinct notes: Bb (the root), D (the major third), F (the perfect fifth), A (the major seventh), and C (the major ninth). These notes are stacked according to their respective intervals from the root.
How are the intervals 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 used to construct the Bbmaj9 chord?
These numbers represent the specific intervals relative to the root note, Bb. '1' is the root (Bb), '3' is the major third (D), '5' is the perfect fifth (F), '7' is the major seventh (A), and '9' is the major ninth (C). Combining these five intervals creates the full sound of a major ninth chord.
Why is the Bbmaj9 chord considered more advanced for guitarists?
The Bbmaj9 chord is considered more advanced because it typically involves playing five different notes across multiple strings, including higher intervals like the major seventh and major ninth. This often requires more complex fingerings and greater dexterity compared to simpler three or four-note chords.
In what musical genres or contexts is the Bbmaj9 chord commonly used?
The Bbmaj9 chord is frequently utilized in jazz music. Its rich, sophisticated sound, characterized by the inclusion of the major seventh and major ninth intervals, makes it a popular choice for adding harmonic depth and color to jazz chord progressions.
What is the role of the major ninth (9) interval in defining the Bbmaj9 chord?
The major ninth interval (C, in the case of Bbmaj9) is crucial because it adds an additional layer of harmonic richness and complexity beyond a major seventh chord. It contributes significantly to the chord's characteristic full, lush, and often 'jazzy' sound, distinguishing it from simpler major chords.