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A7♭9 Chord on Guitar

A7♭9 is the A dominant 7♭9 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 ▸

A7♭9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • A7♭9 – open position×R5♭93♭7open position
  • A7♭9 – fret 55R5♭735♭9fret 5
  • A7♭9 – fret 66××R3♭7♭9fret 6
  • A7♭9 – fret 1111×R3♭7♭95fret 11

A7♭9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • A7♭9 – R-3-7R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • A7♭9 – R-3-711×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • A7♭9 – R-7-35R×♭73××R-7-3
  • A7♭9 – R-7-312×R×♭73×R-7-3

Scales to play over A7♭9

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

Other A chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 7♭9 chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the A7♭9 chord?
A7♭9 (A dominant 7♭9) contains A, C♯, E, G, B♭ — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♭9.
How do you play A7♭9 on guitar?
A common shape is x02323 (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 A7♭9?
Good choices to solo over A7♭9: A Phrygian dominant, A Diminished (half-whole).