B7♭9 Chord on Guitar

B7♭9 is the B dominant 7♭9 chord — 5 notes (B, D♯, F♯, A, C) 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: B · D♯ · F♯ · A · CFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · ♭9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

B7♭9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • B7♭9 – fret 1×R3♭7♭95fret 1
  • B7♭9 – fret 77R5♭735♭9fret 7
  • B7♭9 – fret 88××R3♭7♭9fret 8
  • B7♭9 – fret 1313×R3♭7♭95fret 13

B7♭9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • B7♭9 – R-3-76R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • B7♭9 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • B7♭9 – R-7-37R×♭73××R-7-3
  • B7♭9 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Scales to play over B7♭9

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain B, D♯, F♯, A, C.

Other B chords

Dominant 7♭9 chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the B7♭9 chord?
B7♭9 (B dominant 7♭9) contains B, D♯, F♯, A, C — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♭9.
How do you play B7♭9 on guitar?
A common shape is x21212 (low E to high E, x = muted string, around fret 1). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with B7♭9?
Good choices to solo over B7♭9: B Phrygian dominant, B Diminished (half-whole).