urTuner

B9 Guitar Chord

B dominant ninth (B9) is made of the notes B D♯ F♯ A C♯. Here are 3 ways to play it on guitar, starting with the easiest.

How to play B9 on guitar

  1. Shape 1

    From fret 1

    3 2 1 B D♯ A C♯ F♯

    x21222

  2. Shape 2

    Barre at fret 4

    4fr 1 4 2 B C♯ F♯ B D♯ A

    744445

  3. Shape 3

    Barre at fret 7

    7fr 1 3 2 4 B F♯ A D♯ F♯ C♯

    797879

Notes in B9

Formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9
DegreeNote
1B
3D♯
5F♯
♭7A
9C♯

Shape 1 step by step

  1. Lay your ring finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 2.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 5 at fret 2.
  3. Put your index finger on string 4 at fret 1.
  4. Don’t play string 6.
  5. Strum from string 5 to string 1.

Shape 2 step by step

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 2 at fret 4.
  2. Put your little finger on string 6 at fret 7.
  3. Put your middle finger on string 1 at fret 5.
  4. Strum from string 6 to string 1.

Tune your guitar first

A chord only sounds right when your instrument is in tune. Check your strings with the free online tuner before you practise. Open the guitar tuner

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B9 chord?

B dominant ninth has the notes B D♯ F♯ A C♯. Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7 9. The numbers are steps of the major scale, counted from the root.

What is the easiest way to play B9 on guitar?

Start with shape 1 (from fret 1), written as x21222 from string 6 to string 1. Here x means you don’t play that string and 0 means it rings open.

Dominant 9th chords in every key

More tuners

Music tools

Browse all 200 tuners & tools