E♭ minor ninth (E♭m9) chord on mandolin

Minor ninth chord (a minor seventh plus a major ninth) on E♭: the notes of the E♭m9 chord are E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ minor ninth (D♯m9).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 9medium

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What the E♭m9 chord sounds like

A minor ninth is a minor seventh with an added major ninth: soft and warm, typical of R&B and neo-soul.

Notes of the E♭m9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E♭	root
3	G♭	minor third (3 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 (E): fret 2, index finger (G♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 6, little finger (E♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, middle finger (F4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, ring finger (D♭4)

Position 9

String 1 (E): fret 11, little finger (E♭6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, index finger (G♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 11, ring finger (D♭5)
String 4 (G): fret 10, middle finger (F4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The E♭m9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

E♭ minor: i9 (tonic)
B♭ minor: iv9 (subdominant)
G♭ major: vi9
D♭ major: ii9

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭m9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F♯ – relative major: two shared notes
B – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
E♭m7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Simpler versions

E♭m7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
E♭m – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
E♭sus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭m9 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play E♭m9 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. 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♭m9 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♭m9 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭m9 (also written Ebm9), and its full name is E♭ minor ninth.