How to Play 9 Chords on Jazz Guitar

If you're learning to play jazz guitar, you already know that a chord is 3 or more different notes played at the same time. Different chords produce different sounds according to the style of music being played. For those of you who have already mastered triads and 7 chords on the guitar, the next step is 9 chords. The 9 chords really give jazz its sound on the guitar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Guitar

1. Create 9 chords with the root, the third and the fifth, the seventh and the ninth notes of the major scale. Although the ninth note is actually the second note of the next scale, it's easier to keep counting upward than to switch numbers and octaves.

2. Experiment first with a dominant 9 which contains a flattened seventh.

3. Try a dominant 9 based off the fifth string. Play the root, the third, flattened seventh, ninth and fifth notes of the major scale.

4. Go to a dominant 9 with a sharp 5 by sharping the fifth note in the chord.

5. Make a dominant 9 with a flat 5 by flatting the fifth note in the chord.

6. Change things up with a dominant 7 flat 9 by playing the root, third, flattened seventh and flattened ninth notes of the major scale.

7. Play a dominant 7 flat 9 by playing the root, third, flattened seventh, flattened ninth and sharp fifth notes of the major scale. You can also flat the 5 for a dominant.

Tips & Warnings

• If you alter the 9, technically it's no longer a dominant 9, but since you still use the 9 as your starting point, it's in the jazz family of chords.