HandyChords

A9b5 chord on guitar

A Dominant Ninth Flat Five. Notes: A, C#, Eb, G and B.

A9b5 guitar chord diagram, open position×1Ebb54B92C#33Gb7AEbBC#G
Open position · Medium

How to play A9b5

  1. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (Eb).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 3 (G).
  4. Put your pinky finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 4 (B).
  5. Let the open A string ring.
  6. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  7. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: A (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play A9b5

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
A9b5 guitar chord, open position×1Ebb54B92C#33Gb7AEbBC#G

Open position

Medium
A9b5 guitar chord, barre at fret 44fr2AR1C#33Gb71B91Ebb54ARAC#GBEbA

Barre at fret 4

Medium
A9b5 guitar chord, barre at fret 88fr×2B91Ebb51Gb73C#3ABEbGC#

Barre at fret 8

Hard
A9b5 guitar chord, barre at fret 1111fr×2AR1C#33Gb74B91Ebb5AC#GBEb

Barre at fret 11

Hard

Notes and theory

Aroot
C#3 · major third
Ebb5 · diminished fifth
Gb7 · minor seventh
B9 · ninth

The 9b5 is a dominant ninth with a lowered fifth, a jazz chord with a lot of tension. The formula is 1 3 b5 b7 9.

A9b5 on ukuleleA9b5 on piano

More A chords

All A guitar chords
A guitar chord diagram×1E52AR3C#3AEAC#EAmajorAm guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb3AEACEAmminorA7 guitar chord diagram×2E53C#3AEGC#EA7dominant seventhAm7 guitar chord diagram×2E51Cb3AEGCEAm7minor seventhAmaj7 guitar chord diagram×2E51G#73C#3AEG#C#EAmaj7major seventhAsus4 guitar chord diagram×1AR2D4ADADEAsus4suspended fourthAsus2 guitar chord diagram×2E53ARAEABEAsus2suspended secondAdim guitar chord diagram××1Ebb53AR2Cb3AEbACAdimdiminishedAaug guitar chord diagram×4F#52AR3C#31F#5AFAC#FAaugaugmentedA6 guitar chord diagram×1E51AR1C#31F#6AEAC#F#A6major sixthA9 guitar chord diagram2fr4AR3C#31E5AC#EGBEA9dominant ninthAadd9 guitar chord diagram×1E53B92C#3AEBC#EAadd9added ninthAm7b5 guitar chord diagram××2Ebb53Cb3AEbGCAm7b5half-diminishedAdim7 guitar chord diagram×1Ebb53AR2Cb34Gbbb7AEbACGbAdim7diminished seventhA7sus4 guitar chord diagram×2E53D4AEGDEA7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthA5 guitar chord diagram××××1E5AEA5power chordAm6 guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb34F#6AEACF#Am6minor sixthAm9 guitar chord diagram×2E54B91Cb33Gb7AEBCGAm9minor ninth

dominant ninth flat five chords in every key

C9b5C#9b5D9b5D#9b5E9b5F9b5F#9b5G9b5G#9b5A9b5A#9b5B9b5

Questions

What notes are in the A9b5 chord?

A9b5 (A dominant ninth flat five) is made of five notes: A (root), C# (major third), Eb (diminished fifth), G (minor seventh) and B (ninth).

How do you play A9b5 on guitar?

The easiest A9b5 is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (Eb). Put your middle finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#). Put your ring finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 3 (G).

Is A9b5 hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated medium and uses 4 fretted notes plus open strings.

What does a dominant ninth flat five chord sound like?

The 9b5 is a dominant ninth with a lowered fifth, a jazz chord with a lot of tension.