G#9b5 Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively

G# 9b5 position 1 guitar chord diagram

The G#9b5 chord (G# ninth flat five) is spelled G#, B#, D, F# and A#. It sounds identical to Ab9b5, which swaps the B# for a plain C but needs an Ebb for the fifth.

All three voicings are barre shapes, starting at the 3rd fret, and none has an open string. Both spellings describe the same pitches, so the choice follows the key of the song, and charts usually use the Ab name. The G# whole-tone scale contains every note.

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G# 9th with flat 5th guitar chord is also written as G#9b5, G#9(b5) or G#9-5.

G#9b5 Chord Notes and Formula

G# 9b5 chord Notes:

G# B# D F# A#

Chord Formula:

Formula: 1 3 b5 b7 9

Same chord, different name: G#9b5 is also written as Ab9b5 (Ab ninth flat five).

G# 9b5 Chord Interactive Fretboard

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G# 9b5 Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Barre Movable

G# 9b5 position 1 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

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

Position 2 Barre Movable

G# 9b5 position 2 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 6 of the D and high E strings at the same time
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 7 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 7 of the B string

Position 3 Barre Movable

G# 9b5 position 3 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 10 of the low E, D and high E 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
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the B string

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Chords That Go With G#9b5

One key where G#9b5 fits is Db major, where it works as the V chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

I · Db ii · Ebm iii · Fm IV · Gb V · Ab vi · Bbm

See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.

More G# Chords

G# G#m G#7 G#m7 G#maj7 G#sus4 G#sus2 G#add9 G#dim G#9

Want to know how this chord is built? Read ninth and add9 chords explained, or browse all G# guitar chords.

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C 9b5 | D 9b5 | E 9b5 | F 9b5 | G 9b5 | A 9b5 | B 9b5 | C#9b5 | D#9b5 | F#9b5 | G#9b5 | A#9b5 | Ab9b5 | Bb9b5 | Db9b5 | Eb9b5 | Gb9b5

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

Why is the third in G#9b5 written B#?

The letters stack G, B, D, F, A, so the major third over G# takes the letter B and becomes B#. It sounds like C.

Which notes are in G# ninth flat five?

G#9b5 is G#, B#, D, F# and A#. The D is the lowered fifth and the A# is the major ninth over the root.

Is G#9b5 identical to Ab9b5?

Yes. Ab9b5 is Ab, C, Ebb, Gb and Bb, the same five pitches. Each spelling has an awkward note: B# in G#9b5 and Ebb in Ab9b5.

How many G#9b5 voicings are there?

There are 3 voicings, from fret 3 to fret 11. All 3 are barre voicings and none uses an open string.

Which scale works over G#9b5?

The G# whole-tone scale spells G#, A#, B#, C##, D## and F#. All five chord pitches are in it, with the chord's D written as C##.