Major 9th Chords... maj9

maj7 with an added 9th

Major 9th chords are 5-note chords spanning 14 semitones - octave plus a major second or 2 semitones.
Written as maj9 or △9 with maj9 most commonly used.
They are called compound intervals as they span more than an octave.
Intervals: root, major third, perfect fifth, major 7th, major 9th.
Chord formula: 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9

Example: Calculating a Gmaj9 chord

Chords can be calculated from the major scale of the chord's root note, therefore Gmaj9 is calculated from the G major scale which consists of 1 sharp - F#.
Because a 9th chord exceeds one octave, we need to add an extra note to the existing one-octave scale (9 notes in total).
The scale reads as follows: G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G - A
Formula for maj9 chords = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9
Substitute notes from the scale into the formula
Gmaj9 = G - B - D - F# - A

Major 9th Chords Table (maj9)

(maj9)	A	B♭	B	C	C#	D	E♭	E	F	F#	G	A♭
Root	A	B♭	B	C	C#	D	E♭	E	F	F#	G	A♭
Major 3rd	C#	D	D#	E	E#(F)	F#	G	G#	A	A#	B	C
Perfect 5th	E	F	F#	G	G#	A	B♭	B	C	C#	D	E♭
Major 7th	G#	A	A#	B	B#(C)	C#	D	D#	E	E#(F)	F#	G
Major 9th	B	C	C#	D	D#	E	F	F#	G	G#	A	B♭

Major 9th Chords - RH / LH

Chord Chart Legend

Amaj9 → Cmaj9 C#maj9 → Emaj9 Fmaj9 → Abmaj9

Right Handers
Major 9th Chords

Left Handers
Major 9th Lefty Chords - Part 1

Right Handers
Major 9th Chords

Left Handers
Major 9th Lefty Chords - Part 2

Right Handers
Major 9th Chords

Left Handers
Lefties: F6/9 - Ab6/9

Don't confuse a 9 chord with a maj9 chord.

🔹A ninth chord is built on a dominant or flattened 7th chord

🔹A major 9th chord is built on a major 7th chord.

Formula for a 9 chord:
1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9 (dom 7th chord with an added 9th)
Formula for a maj9 chord:
1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 (maj 7th chord with an added 9th)