G dominant ninth (G9) chord on piano

Dominant ninth chord (a dominant seventh plus a major ninth) on G: the notes of the G9 chord are G – B – D – F – A.

Full chord: G4 – B4 – D5 – F5 – A5

What the G9 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 G9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	G	root
3	B	major third (4 semitones)
5	D	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	F	minor seventh (10 semitones)
9	A	major second (2 semitones)

Piano voicings

Chords with five or more notes are rarely played in one hand: the left hand takes the root, the right hand the colour notes. The fifth (and in an eleventh chord the third) is often left out.

Full chord

G4 – B4 – D5 – F5 – A5

Two-hand voicing

G3 – B4 – F5 – A5 – D6

Which keys is it in?

The G9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

C major: V9 (dominant)
A minor: VII9

Similar chords and substitutes

If G9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C♯7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
Bdim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
G7 – a simpler dominant
G7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
C – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

G7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
Gadd9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
G – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Gsus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

G11 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
G13 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the G9 chord?

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

How do I play the G9 chord on piano?

Play the root with your left hand and the colour notes (third, seventh, ninth) with your right hand – the two-hand voicing above. Stacking all 5 notes in one hand is possible but sounds crowded.

How is the G9 chord written?

The chord symbol is G9, and its full name is G dominant ninth.