About the B7♭9 chord
The 7♭9 is a dominant seventh with a flattened ninth. It is tense and dark, and usually resolves to a minor chord a fourth above. Jazz and flamenco use it constantly. The symbol for it is B7♭9.
How to play B7♭9
- Lay your index finger flat across the top 4 strings at fret 1, pressing just behind the fret.
- Put your middle finger on the A string at fret 2.
- Put your ring finger on the G string at fret 2.
- Put your little finger on the high E string at fret 2.
- Strum and don't play the low E string.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of B major
These are the chords built on each note of the B major scale, so they all sound good together with B7♭9. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other B chords
B7♭9 chord questions
What notes are in a B7♭9 chord?
B7♭9 is made of B, D♯, F♯, A and C. In intervals that is 1, 3, 5, ♭7, ♭9 above the root, B.
What is the easiest way to play B7♭9?
The first shape above is the most common one: x 2 1 2 1 2 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. It uses a barre, so if that is hard at first, try one of the other shapes.
Is B7♭9 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.