G9 chord on piano
G9 is G, B, D, F and A. G is the white key between the first two black keys of the three. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · G–B–D–F–A · right hand 1-2-3-4-5
- Notes
- G · B · D · F · A
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
How to play G9 on piano
From G, go 4 half steps up to B, 3 half steps up to D, 3 half steps up to F then 4 half steps up to A. Press the 5 keys together and that's G9.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 2 on B, 3 on D, 4 on F and 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 4 on B, 3 on D, 2 on F and 1 on A.
- On the keyboard it's white, white, white, white and white keys.
Two ways to voice G9
- root position: G–B–D–F–A. Right hand 1-2-3-4-5.
- close voicing: G–A–B–D–F. Right hand 1-2-3-4-5.
The close voicing folds the ninth down next to the root, which fits under one hand; the spread voicing sounds wider.
Changing from G9 to the chords around it
These are the changes you'll meet most often with G9, using the first shape of each chord.
- C (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): G9 to C: play C in 2nd inversion (G–C–E) and G stays under the same finger, while B moves up to C and F down to E. C on piano
- Cmaj7 (I in C major): G9 to Cmaj7: play Cmaj7 in 2nd inversion (G–B–C–E) and G and B stay under the same fingers, while D moves down to C and F down to E. Cmaj7 on piano
- Am7 (vi in C major): G9 to Am7: play Am7 in 1st inversion (C–E–G–A) and A stays under the same finger, while B moves up to C, F down to E and F up to G. Am7 on piano
G9 is a dominant ninth: G7 with the ninth on top. G9 is the funk and soul version of G7, fuller on top and still pulling toward its resolution. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Getting G9 under your fingers
Roll the chord up and back down, G, B, D, F, A, F, D, B, G, before playing it as a block.
The keys of G9
G9 is a dominant ninth chord, 1–3–5–♭7–9 from G. Root position, from the bottom: how G9 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| B | white key | RH 2 · LH 4 | major third |
| D | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | perfect fifth |
| F | white key | RH 4 · LH 2 | minor seventh |
| A | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | ninth |
G9 in context
G9 on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try G9 on ukulele or G9 on guitar, or compare them on the G9 chord page.
Related G chords on piano
Other dominant ninth chords
G9 on piano: questions
What notes are in G9 on piano?
G, B, D, F and A: G (white key), B (white key), D (white key), F (white key) and A (white key). Right hand 1-2-3-4-5, left hand 5-4-3-2-1.
How do you play G9 on piano?
Press G, B, D, F and A together, all white keys. Right hand: 1 on G, 2 on B, 3 on D, 4 on F and 5 on A.
What are the inversions of G9?
G9 is usually played in root position (G–B–D–F–A) or as a close voicing (G–A–B–D–F).
What does G9 look like on the keyboard?
white, white, white, white and white keys.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside G9. Updated September 2026.