Skip to content

F9 chord on guitar

F9 (F dominant ninth) is F, A, C, E♭ and G. The easiest way to play it is on five strings, written 1x1213. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

F9

F dominant ninth · F A C E♭ G · 1 3 5 ♭7 9

  • 1st fret

    Root on the 6th string

    21314FE♭ACG

    1x1213

  • 7th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    7fr21333FAE♭GC

    x87888

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 F, the root.

How to play F9

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 · 1st fret

    1x1213
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 3rd fret.
    • Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 7th fret

    x87888
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 8th fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 3rd to 1st strings at the 8th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the F9 chord

F9 is F, A, C, E♭ and G, and it sounds full and funky, a seventh chord with more colour. From F, count 4 half steps up to A, 3 more to C, 3 more to E♭ and 4 more to G. 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 F lowest. See its inversions and keys on the F9 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after F9

B♭x13331F9 is the V9 of B♭: it resolves there like a V7, with more colour.B♭mx13321The same pull into B♭m, home in the minor key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on F

FFmF7Fmaj7Fm7Fsus2Fsus4Fadd9F6FdimFm7♭5Fdim7Faug

Dominant ninth chords on other notes

C9C♯9D9E♭9E9F♯9G9A♭9A9B♭9B9

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play F9 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on five strings, written 1x1213. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Mute the 5th string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the F9 chord?

F9 is F, A, C, E♭ and G. In the shape written 1x1213, the 6th to 1st strings play F, E♭, A, C and G.

Is F9 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play F9 on guitar?

This page shows two: 1x1213 (1st fret) and x87888 (7th 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 F9?

Yes. “Make a beat in B♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where F9 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 B♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where F9 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 B♭ majorAll guitar chords

Keep going