Master the G9b5 Chord: Play and Understand Its Musical Role
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G9b5 is the G ninth flat five chord, spelled G, B, Db, F and A. It is a G7 whose fifth has dropped from D to Db, with the ninth (A) added above.
The three voicings here are all barre shapes, and the lowest is at the 2nd fret. For a solo, try the G Lydian dominant scale: its raised fourth, C#, is the same pitch as the Db, and the scale contains the other chord notes too.
Play into the microphone to see which strings ring through each barre.
G 9th with flat 5th guitar chord is also written as G9b5, G9(b5) or G9-5.
G 9b5 chord Notes:
How the Dominant Ninth Flat five chord is built:
Formula: 1 3 b5 b7 9
G 9b5 Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the A, G and B strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 3 of the high E string
Position 2 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the D and high E strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 6 of the G string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 6 of the B string
Position 3 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 9 of the low E, D and high E strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 10 of the A string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 10 of the B string
Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What notes are in G9b5?
G9b5 contains G, B, Db, F and A. The Db is the lowered fifth and the A is the major ninth over the root.
What is the tritone in G ninth flat five?
G and Db are a tritone apart, and so are B and F. The chord contains both pairs together.
What is the number of G9b5 voicings?
There are 3 voicings, from fret 2 to fret 10. All 3 are barre voicings and none uses an open string.
Which scale fits G9b5?
The G whole-tone scale is G, A, B, C#, D# and F. It holds all five chord pitches, with the chord's Db written as C#.
How does G9b5 differ from G7b5?
G7b5 has G, B, Db and F. G9b5 keeps those four and adds A, the ninth, a major ninth over the root.
