Ab7(b9) Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively

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Ab 7(b9) position 1 guitar chord diagram

Looking for Ab7(b9) (Ab seventh flat nine)? Its five notes are Ab, C, Eb, Gb and Bbb. The sound is tied to minor-key dominants and to the Spanish colour of the phrygian dominant scale.

There are three voicings listed for this root, and none of them uses an open string. Bbb is the same pitch as A, but it is spelled that way so every note sits a third above the last by letter name. Try the Ab Phrygian Dominant scale next. It is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale and it contains all five chord tones, so it fits the chord from start to finish.

The fretboard at the top labels every note of each shape, so you can see where Ab, C and Bbb fall.

Ab 7th with flat 9th guitar chord is also written as Ab7(b9), Ab7b9 or Ab7-9.

Notes in the Ab 7(b9) chord:

Ab C Eb Gb Bbb

Formula of the Dominant Seventh Flat Nine Added chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 b7 b9

Ab 7(B9) Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Movable

Ab 7(b9) position 1 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the G string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the A string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the low E string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 4 of the D string

Position 2 Barre Movable

Ab 7(b9) position 2 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the A string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 4 of the low E, D and B strings at the same time
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 5 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the high E string

Position 3 Barre Movable

Ab 7(b9) position 3 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 10 of the D and B strings at the same time
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 11 of the A string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 11 of the G string

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Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 7(b9) | D 7(b9) | E 7(b9) | F 7(b9) | G 7(b9) | A 7(b9) | B 7(b9) | C#7(b9) | D#7(b9) | F#7(b9) | G#7(b9) | A#7(b9) | Ab7(b9) | Bb7(b9) | Db7(b9) | Eb7(b9) | Gb7(b9)

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What does the Bbb in Ab7(b9) mean?

Bbb is B double flat, which sounds like A natural. It is the flat ninth of Ab, a half step higher than the root one octave up. The double flat keeps the letter sequence of stacked thirds correct.

Which notes are in the Ab seventh flat nine chord?

Ab, C, Eb, Gb and Bbb. They form a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh and a flat ninth.

Is Ab7(b9) enharmonic with G#7(b9)?

Yes, they use the same pitches. G#7(b9) is spelled G#, B#, D#, F# and A, while Ab7(b9) uses Ab, C, Eb, Gb and Bbb. Flat spellings are the natural choice in flat keys.

Which scale can be played over Ab7(b9)?

The Ab Phrygian Dominant scale, spelled Ab, Bbb, C, Db, Eb, Fb and Gb, contains every chord tone. It is the fifth mode of harmonic minor.

How many voicings does Ab7(b9) have, and how high do they go?

Three voicings are listed, reaching from the second fret to the eleventh fret. Two of them are barre voicings, and none uses open strings.