Chord chart for A♭9 Guitar Chord (A♭9): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

A♭9 guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 17 playable shapes

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A♭9 guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A♭9 guitar chord

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

The A♭9 dominant 9 chord enriches the dominant 7th by adding a major ninth B♭, enhancing its tension with a colorful, jazzy flair. This extended harmony adds sophistication, frequently used in jazz, blues, and funk for dynamic progressions.

Also written as A♭dom9.

Root note: A♭
Quality: 9
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 17

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 464546

464546

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

Shape 411112

411112

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, 4th string, and 5th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 6th string.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th 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♭ Major Ninth 9

The ninth opens the chord up and adds a modern, spacious color.

Shape details

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

A♭9 shape 464546

How to play this shape

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

A♭9 shape 411112

How to play this shape

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

A♭9 shape 414112

How to play this shape

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

A♭9 shape 411312

How to play this shape

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

A♭9 shape 414114

How to play this shape

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

A♭9 shape xb8b98

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭9 shape xb8bb8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 11th fret of the 5th 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 2nd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A♭9 shape xbabb8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st 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 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string and 3rd string in barre position
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in A♭9?

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

What is another name for A♭9?

A♭9 is also written as A♭dom9.

How do you play A♭9 on guitar?

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

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