E♭ dominant ninth (E♭9) chord on banjo

Dominant ninth chord (a dominant seventh plus a major ninth) on E♭: the notes of the E♭9 chord are E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭ – F. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ dominant ninth (D♯9).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 3medium

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What the E♭9 chord sounds like

A dominant ninth is a dominant seventh with an added major ninth. A fuller, fatter dominant sound – a staple of funk, soul and blues.

Notes of the E♭9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E♭	root
3	G	major third (4 semitones)
5	B♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	D♭	minor seventh (10 semitones)
9	F	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 3, ring finger (F4)
String 2 (B): fret 2, middle finger (D♭4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭3)

Position 3

String 1 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, middle finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, little finger (D♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 3, index finger (F3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The E♭9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A♭ major: V9 (dominant)
F minor: VII9

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
Gdim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
E♭7 – a simpler dominant
E♭7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
A♭ – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

E♭7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
E♭add9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
E♭ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
E♭sus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

E♭11 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
E♭13 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭9 chord?

E♭, G, B♭, D♭, F. The root is E♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major second.

What is the easiest way to play E♭9 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 2 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some E♭9 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 5-note chord. The fifth (B♭) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the E♭9 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭9 (also written Eb9), and its full name is E♭ dominant ninth.