Chord chart for Am9 Guitar Chord (A minor 9): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

A minor 9 guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 115 playable shapes

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A minor 9 guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A minor 9 guitar chord

Am9 is the A minor 9 guitar chord. It uses the notes A, C, E, G, and B and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7-9.

The A minor 9 minor 9 chord combines the minor 7th with a major ninth B, producing a lush, moody atmosphere. The added ninth B softens the minor tonality with a dreamy, jazzy color, perfect for soulful ballads and expressive emotional landscapes.

Also written as Amin9.

Root note: A
Quality: minor 9
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 115

Chord tones

ACEGB

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape 535003

535003

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string.
  5. 5 Let the third and second strings ring open.
  6. 6 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape 535503

535503

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string and 4th string in barre position.
  5. 5 Let the second string ring open.
  6. 6 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 Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

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 minor 9 shape 535003

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the third and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

A minor 9 shape 535503

How to play this shape

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

A minor 9 shape x05503

How to play this shape

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

A minor 9 shape 505503

How to play this shape

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

A minor 9 shape 535000

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Let the third, second, and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

A minor 9 shape 535400

How to play this shape

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

A minor 9 shape 535500

How to play this shape

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

A minor 9 shape x05500

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Let the fifth, second, and first strings ring open
  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 Am9?

Am9 uses the notes A, C, E, G, and B. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7-9.

What is another name for Am9?

Am9 is also written as Amin9.

How do you play Am9 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string. Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string. Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. Let the third and second strings ring open. Strum from the 6th string down.

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