F#9b5: guitar chord voicings, inversions, scales and arpeggios

F#9b5 (9b5) is an interactive GuitarArcanum page with chord formula, intervals, voicings, inversions, triads, pentatonic patterns, scales and arpeggios on the fretboard.

Chord formula

Interval formula: 1 3 b5 b7 9. A dominant with a flat 5th and a 9th — a floating, slightly blurred dominant, the sound of the Lydian dominant and whole-tone color.

Chord tones

Here the b5 isn't a passing note but a full color tone. With the 9th it gives a whole-tone, floating tint, while the 3rd–b7 tritone keeps the dominant core.

Sound character

Floating, lifted and slightly blurred — a whole-tone and Lydian-dominant color.

Harmonic function

An altered dominant. Often a dominant that pulls more gently than usual thanks to the whole-tone shading.

Typical progressions

  • C#9b5 → Cmaj7
  • G#9b5 – F#maj7
  • whole-tone run over 9b5

Guitar voicing advice

Root on the 5th string, using a b5 instead of the perfect 5th. Stack 3 – b7 – 9 on top; the shape is symmetric and moves easily in whole steps.

Compatible scales for F#9b5

Other chord qualities on the F# root

Compare this chord with other qualities sharing the same root.