Chord chart for A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th / B♭♭ (4th inversion) Guitar Chord: Notes, Shapes & Bass Note | Guitar Wiz

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 31 playable shapes

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A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th / B♭♭ (4th inversion) guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th / B♭♭ (4th inversion)

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ is the A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th / B♭♭ (4th inversion) guitar chord with B♭♭ in the bass. It uses the notes A♭, C, E♭, G♭, and B♭♭ and the interval formula 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

The A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th dominant 7th flat 9th chord adds a flat ninth B♭♭ to the dominant 7th, enhancing its dissonance and harmonic tension. This exotic, unresolved color is popular in jazz and classical cadences for creating dramatic resolutions. With B♭♭ in the bass, this voicing functions as the 4th inversion of A♭ dominant 7th flat 9th.

Also written as A♭7♭9, A♭dom7♭9/B♭♭, and A♭7(♭9)/B♭♭.

Root note: A♭
Bass note: B♭♭
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 31

Chord tones

A♭CE♭G♭B♭♭

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape x01112

x01112

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape x04544

x04544

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 4th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string.
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 5th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

A♭ Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

C Major Third 3

This note defines the chord's major quality and brings brightness to the sound.

E♭ Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

G♭ Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

B♭♭ Minor Ninth ♭9

The flat ninth adds sharper tension and a more dramatic clash.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape x01112

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth string
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape x04544

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth string
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape 504544

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Let the fifth string ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape x06575

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape 566575

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string, 3rd string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape x06878

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape x0ab9b

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 9th fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ shape xcddde

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 12th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 14th fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth string
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in A♭7♭9/B♭♭?

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ uses the notes A♭, C, E♭, G♭, and B♭♭. Its interval formula is 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

What is another name for A♭7♭9/B♭♭?

A♭7♭9/B♭♭ is also written as A♭7♭9, A♭dom7♭9/B♭♭, and A♭7(♭9)/B♭♭.

How do you play A♭7♭9/B♭♭ on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string. Let the fifth string ring open. Strum from the 5th string down.

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