G9: guitar chord voicings, inversions, scales and arpeggios

G9 (9) 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 5 b7 9. A dominant 9th is a plain 7th chord with the 9th added on top, common everywhere from funk rhythm to jazz comping. It keeps the dominant function of a 7th — it still resolves up a fourth — but sounds fuller.

Chord tones

The pull comes from the tritone between the major 3rd and the b7. The 9th is a color tone and doesn't affect the function. The 5th matters least here, so it's the first note to drop.

Sound character

Fuller and richer than a plain 7th without adding tension — the classic sound of a funk or soul rhythm part.

Harmonic function

A dominant. It resolves up a fourth to the tonic (C9 → F). The 9th doesn't change that function, it only adds color.

Typical progressions

G9 → F
Am9 – D9 – Gmaj9
Droove on a single C9

Guitar voicing advice

The go-to shape has the root on the 5th string — the classic x3233x. Drop the 5th, or leave the root in the bass and comp 3 – b7 – 9.

Compatible scales for G9

Other chord qualities on the G root

Compare this chord with other qualities sharing the same root.