About the A♭m9 chord
The minor ninth adds the ninth to a minor seventh chord. It is smooth and lush, and sits at the heart of neo-soul, R&B and jazz. The symbol for it is A♭m9. (also written G♯m9)
How to play A♭m9
- Lay your index finger flat across the top 6 strings at fret 4, pressing just behind the fret.
- Put your middle finger on the A string at fret 6.
- Put your ring finger on the high E string at fret 6.
- Strum all six strings.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of A♭ minor
These are the chords built on each note of the A♭ minor scale, so they all sound good together with A♭m9. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other A♭ chords
A♭m9 chord questions
What notes are in a A♭m9 chord?
A♭m9 is made of A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭ and B♭. In intervals that is 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9 above the root, A♭.
What is the easiest way to play A♭m9?
The first shape above is the most common one: 4 6 4 4 4 6 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is A♭m9 a barre chord?
The main shape uses a barre, where one finger holds down several strings at once. Press just behind the fret and roll the finger slightly onto its side.