D9 Chord on Guitar
Notes D F♯ A C E. Start with D9 (x 5 4 5 5 5): the C9 shape moved up two frets, root on string 5.
Chord · D9 dominant 9th
D9, root on string 5 (fret 5) · x 5 4 5 5 5
movable, no open strings
D9 with open E on top · x 5 4 5 5 0
open strings
D9, root on string 4 (fret 12) · x x 12 11 13 12
movable, no open strings
1 D3 F♯5 A♭7 C9 E
- Barre: pinky finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 5
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 5
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 5
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): open
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 12
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 11
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 13
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from D |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | root |
| 3 | F♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | A | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | C | minor 7th |
| 9 | E | major 9th |
Formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9 (dominant 9th).
More on this chord type: Dominant 7th chords · 7th chords explained
Keys that contain D9
| Key | D9 is the |
|---|---|
| G major | V9 |
| E minor | VII9 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing D9: what goes wrong
D9 is D7 plus E
D9 is D, F♯, A, C and E: D7 with the 9th (E) on top. The open E string sounds as the 9th in x 5 4 5 5 0, which makes it the easier shape.
D9 leads to G
D9 is the V9 chord of G major. G and D9 together give a G major tonic and a dominant with a funkier edge than D7.
One shape, any root
x 5 4 5 5 5 has no open strings. Slide it two frets down for C9 or two frets up for E9.
Related chords
Learn and practise D9
- Metronomepractise the change to D9 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in D9?
D, F♯, A, C, E: the 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9 of the D9 dominant 9th chord.
What is the difference between D7 and D9?
D9 adds E to D7: D, F♯, A, C, E. Both resolve to G; the 9th gives D9 a fuller, jazzier sound.