Learn the F 9 Guitar Chord: Theory and Application

F9 is the F dominant ninth chord: F, A, C, Eb and G. The G is the ninth, the Eb is the flat seventh and the A the major third.

The page offers six voicings. One uses an open string, three need a barre, and all start at the 1st fret or above. Seen from Bb major, F9 has the V role, which is why it tends to resolve there. Blends like this appear in jazz chord progressions, with the F Mixolydian scale covering all five notes.

Use the strum and arpeggio playback at the top to listen to how the ninth colours the sound.

F dominant 9th guitar chord is also written as F9, Fdom9, F7(9) or F7add9.

F9 Chord Notes and Formula

Notes of the F 9 chord:

F A C Eb G

Chord formula for the Dominant Ninth chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 b7 9

F9 Chord Interactive Fretboard

Want a structured chord roadmap instead of jumping between pages?
Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.

F9 Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Open

F Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Let the A string play without pressing any fret
Let the G string play without pressing any fret
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the low E string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 1 of the D string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 1 of the B string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 1 of the high E string

Position 2 Barre Movable

F Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the D and high E strings at the same time
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the B string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the G string

Position 3 Movable

F Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the D string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the A string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the G string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the B string

Position 4 Barre Movable

F Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the D string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the A string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the G, B and high E strings at the same time

Position 5 Barre Movable Slash Chord

F 9 position 6 guitar chord diagram (F9/C slash chord)

F/C Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the D string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the G, B and high E strings at the same time

The lowest note is C, not the root, so this voicing is the slash chord F9/C.

Position 6 Movable Slash Chord

F 9 position 7 guitar chord diagram (F9/C slash chord)

F/C Dominant Ninth Finger Positions

Mute the A string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the D string
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the G string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the B string

The lowest note is C, not the root, so this voicing is the slash chord F9/C.

Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you prefer a printable pdf, download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Chords That Go With F9

One key where F9 fits is Bb major, where it works as the V chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

I · Bb ii · Cm iii · Dm IV · Eb V · F vi · Gm

See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.

More F Chords

F Fm F7 Fm7 Fmaj7 Fsus4 Fsus2 Fadd9 Fdim F6 Faug Fm6 F7sus4 Fdim7

Want to know how this chord is built? Read ninth and add9 chords explained, or browse all F guitar chords.

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 9 | D 9 | E 9 | F 9 | G 9 | A 9 | B 9 | C#9 | D#9 | F#9 | G#9 | A#9 | Ab9 | Bb9 | Db9 | Eb9 | Gb9

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In the ebook you can also find maps show you the tones in a chord all along the fretboard. They are incredibly helpful because allow you to:

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Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

Which notes are in F9?

F9 is F, A, C, Eb and G. It is an F7 chord with the G, a major ninth over the root, added.

What is the difference between F9 and F dominant seventh?

F dominant seventh has F, A, C and Eb. F9 adds a G on top, the major ninth, for a fuller sound.

How many F9 voicings are there?

There are 6 voicings, from fret 1 to fret 8. One uses an open string and three are barre voicings.

Which scale fits F dominant ninth?

F Mixolydian is F, G, A, Bb, C, D and Eb. All five chord notes are in it, and G is the ninth.

What is the Eb in F9?

It is the minor seventh, a whole step under the octave F. Together with the A it forms the tritone that gives the chord tension.