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A♭maj9 Chord on Guitar

A♭maj9 is the A♭ major 9th chord — 5 notes (A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭) built from the formula 1 3 5 7 9. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: A♭ · C · E♭ · G · B♭Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

A♭maj9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • A♭maj9 – open positionR95737open position
  • A♭maj9 – fret 1R95R37fret 1
  • A♭maj9 – fret 3R37957fret 3
  • A♭maj9 – fret 55××R379fret 5
  • A♭maj9 – fret 88×R9573fret 8
  • A♭maj9 – fret 1010×R379×fret 10

A♭maj9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • A♭maj9 – R-3-7R37×××R-3-7
  • A♭maj9 – R-3-710×R37××R-3-7
  • A♭maj9 – R-7-3R×73××R-7-3
  • A♭maj9 – R-7-311×R×73×R-7-3

Keys that contain A♭maj9

Scales to play over A♭maj9

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭.

Other A♭ chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major 9th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the A♭maj9 chord?
A♭maj9 (A♭ major 9th) contains A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭ — formula 1 3 5 7 9.
How do you play A♭maj9 on guitar?
A common shape is 411013 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with A♭maj9?
Good choices to solo over A♭maj9: A♭ Ionian (Major), A♭ Lydian.
What key is A♭maj9 in?
A♭maj9 is diatonic in E♭ major (IVmaj9), A♭ major (Imaj9), C minor (♭VImaj9), F minor (♭IIImaj9).