G9b5: guitar chord voicings, inversions, scales and arpeggios

G9b5 (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

  • D9b5 → Cmaj7
  • A9b5 – Gmaj7
  • 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 G9b5

Other chord qualities on the G root

Compare this chord with other qualities sharing the same root.