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B9 Chord on Guitar

B9 is the B dominant 9th chord — 5 notes (B, D♯, F♯, A, C♯) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · A · C♯Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

B9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • B9 – fret 1×R3♭79×fret 1
  • B9 – fret 44R95R3♭7fret 4
  • B9 – fret 66R3♭795×fret 6
  • B9 – fret 77R5♭7359fret 7
  • B9 – fret 88××R3♭79fret 8
  • B9 – fret 1111×R9♭7R3fret 11
  • B9 – fret 1313×R3♭79×fret 13

B9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • B9 – R-3-76R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • B9 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • B9 – R-7-37R×♭73××R-7-3
  • B9 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Keys that contain B9

Scales to play over B9

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain B, D♯, F♯, A, C♯.

Other B chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 9th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the B9 chord?
B9 (B dominant 9th) contains B, D♯, F♯, A, C♯ — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9.
How do you play B9 on guitar?
A common shape is x2122x (low E to high E, x = muted string, around fret 1). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with B9?
Good choices to solo over B9: B Mixolydian, B Lydian dominant, B Mixolydian ♭6.
What key is B9 in?
B9 is diatonic in E major (V9), C♯ minor (♭VII9).