F9 chord
F9 is F, A, C, E♭ and G: 1–3–5–♭7–9 built on F. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
1-0-1-0-1-1 · open · medium
- Notes
- F · A · C · E♭ · G
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
- First shape
- 1-0-1-0-1-1
F9 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · F–A–C–E♭–G · right hand 1-2-3-4-5
- Notes
- F · A · C · E♭ · G
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
F9 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-3-1-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- F · A · C · E♭ · G
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
- First shape
- 0-3-1-0
Changing out of F9
Three changes cover most of what F9 does in songs.
- F9 → B♭ (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below)
Guitar: F9 (1-0-1-0-1-1) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share F, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: F9 to B♭: play B♭ in 2nd inversion (F–B♭–D) and F stays under the same finger, while A moves up to B♭ and E♭ down to D. B♭ - F9 → B♭maj7 (I in B♭ major)
Guitar: F9 (1-0-1-0-1-1) to B♭maj7 (x-1-3-2-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share F and A, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: F9 to B♭maj7: play B♭maj7 in 2nd inversion (F–A–B♭–D) and F and A stay under the same fingers, while C moves down to B♭ and E♭ down to D. B♭maj7 - F9 → Gm7 (vi in B♭ major)
Guitar: F9 (1-0-1-0-1-1) to Gm7 (3-5-3-3-3-3): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 3rd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 5th fret. Shared notes: F and G.
Piano: F9 to Gm7: play Gm7 in 1st inversion (B♭–D–F–G) and G stays under the same finger, while A moves up to B♭, E♭ down to D and E♭ up to F. Gm7
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, E9 shape; capo 5, C9 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 5, C9 shape.
How F9 is built
F9 is a dominant ninth: F7 with the ninth on top. It has the pull of a seventh chord with a funkier, fuller color, and like F7 it leans toward B♭.
From F, go 4 half steps up to A, 3 half steps up to C, 3 half steps up to E♭ then 4 half steps up to G.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | root | 0 | |
| A | major third | 4 | |
| C | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| E♭ | minor seventh | 10 | |
| G | ninth | 14 |
Keys and progressions with F9
F9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to F9
- F9 is F7 plus G. F7
Chords that share most of their notes with F9: Cm6, F7, Fadd9, Am7♭5, Cm, Csus4.
Every F chord
F9 chord: questions
What notes are in the F9 chord?
F, A, C, E♭ and G. F9 is built 1–3–5–♭7–9 from F: A is the major third, C is the perfect fifth, E♭ is the minor seventh and G is the ninth.
How do you play F9 on guitar?
The usual shape is 1-0-1-0-1-1 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play F9 on piano?
Play F, A, C, E♭ and G with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-4-5. F sits just left of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play F9 on ukulele?
0-3-1-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is F9 in?
F9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between F9 and F7?
F9 is F7 plus G.
All three instruments are drawn and played from F, A, C, E♭ and G by the same engine. Updated September 2026.