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
  • major 9th chords consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th notes of the major scale.
  • G chords are based on the scale of G major 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 = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9
  • Substitute notes from the scale into the formula
  • The Gmaj9 chord chord = 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 - Right Handers

Chord Chart Legend Chart Legend

Major 9th Chords - Left Handers

Chord Chart Legend Chart Legend
Major 9th Lefty Chords - Part 1
Major 9th Lefty Chords - Part 2
Major 9th Lefty Chords - Part 3

Take Note:

Don't confuse a 9 chord with a maj9 chord. A ninth chord is built on a dominant or flattened 7th chord, whereas 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)
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