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B♭9 chord on guitar

B♭9 (B♭ dominant ninth) is B♭, D, F, A♭ and C. The easiest way to play it is on five strings, written 6x6768. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 6th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 8th fret. Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

B♭9

B♭ dominant ninth · B♭ D F A♭ C · 1 3 5 ♭7 9

  • 6th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    6fr21314B♭A♭DFC

    6x6768

  • 12th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    12fr21333B♭DA♭CF

    x-13-12-13-13-13

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are B♭, the root.

How to play B♭9

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 6th string · 6th fret

    6x6768
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 6th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 8th fret.
    • Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 12th fret

    x-13-12-13-13-13
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 13th fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 3rd to 1st strings at the 13th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the B♭9 chord

B♭9 is B♭, D, F, A♭ and C, and it sounds full and funky, a seventh chord with more colour. From B♭, count 4 half steps up to D, 3 more to F, 3 more to A♭ and 4 more to C. Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7 9. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with B♭ lowest. See its inversions and keys on the B♭9 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after B♭9

E♭x68886B♭9 is the V9 of E♭: it resolves there like a V7, with more colour.E♭mx68876The same pull into E♭m, home in the minor key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on B♭

B♭B♭mB♭7B♭maj7B♭m7B♭sus2B♭sus4B♭add9B♭6A♯dimA♯m7♭5A♯dim7B♭aug

Dominant ninth chords on other notes

C9C♯9D9E♭9E9F9F♯9G9A♭9A9B9

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play B♭9 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on five strings, written 6x6768. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 6th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 8th fret. Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the B♭9 chord?

B♭9 is B♭, D, F, A♭ and C. In the shape written 6x6768, the 6th to 1st strings play B♭, A♭, D, F and C.

Is B♭9 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play B♭9 on guitar?

This page shows two: 6x6768 (6th fret) and x-13-12-13-13-13 (12th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with B♭9?

Yes. “Make a beat in E♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E♭ major on E♭ B♭ Cm A♭, the key where B♭9 is the V9 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in E♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E♭ major on E♭ B♭ Cm A♭, the key where B♭9 is the V9 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in E♭ majorAll guitar chords

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