Ninth Chords
Keep stacking thirds past the 7th, and you land on the 9th — the note that gives jazz, R&B, and neo-soul chords their signature lush color.
From seventh to ninth
A seventh chord already has four notes: root, 3rd, 5th, 7th. Stack one more third on top of the 7th, and you land on the 9th — the same pitch class as the 2nd scale degree, just an octave higher. Five notes, five layers of harmony.
The three common ninth chords
| Chord | Base 7th chord | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Major 9 (maj9) | Major 7 | 0-4-7-11-14 |
| Minor 9 (min9) | Minor 7 | 0-3-7-10-14 |
| Dominant 9 (dom9) | Dominant 7 | 0-4-7-10-14 |
Common questions
What is a ninth chord?
A five-note chord stacking one more third onto a seventh chord, adding the 9th above the root.
What is the formula for a dominant 9 chord?
Root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 9th (0-4-7-10-14) — a dominant 7 with an added major 9th.
What is the difference between maj9 and min9?
Maj9 stacks a 9th onto a major 7 chord; min9 stacks a 9th onto a minor 7 chord — the 9th interval itself is the same in both.
Why do ninth chords sound so "jazzy"?
The added 9th sits a whole step above the root an octave up, adding color without clashing — a hallmark of jazz, R&B, and neo-soul.
Play ninth chords on your instrument
Melody Monkey visualizes chords on a live guitar, bass, ukulele, or piano — in any key, instantly.
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