Chord chart for E7♭9 Guitar Chord (E dominant 7th flat 9th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

E dominant 7th flat 9th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 144 playable shapes

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E dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

E dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord

E7♭9 is the E dominant 7th flat 9th guitar chord. It uses the notes E, G♯, B, D, and F and the interval formula 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

The E dominant 7th flat 9th dominant 7th flat 9th chord adds a flat ninth F 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.

Also written as Edom7♭9 and E7(♭9).

Root note: E
Quality: dominant 7th flat 9th
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 144

Chord tones

EG♯BDF

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape 020101

020101

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

Shape 020131

020131

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 3rd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  5. 5 Let the sixth and fourth strings 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.

E Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

G♯ Major Third 3

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

B Perfect Fifth 5

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

D Minor Seventh ♭7

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

F 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.

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 020101

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 020131

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape xx2131

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 022131

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 023131

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 023130

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 050464

How to play this shape

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

E dominant 7th flat 9th shape 056464

How to play this shape

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

Quick answers

What notes are in E7♭9?

E7♭9 uses the notes E, G♯, B, D, and F. Its interval formula is 1-3-5-♭7-♭9.

What is another name for E7♭9?

E7♭9 is also written as Edom7♭9 and E7(♭9).

How do you play E7♭9 on guitar?

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

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