Chord
A♭ Major 9 Chord
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this chord.
Notes
A♭ · C · E♭ · G · B♭
Root: A♭
Intervals
1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9
How it is built
This chord starts on A♭ and applies the intervals 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. The result contains 5 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About A♭ Major 9 Chord
A♭ Major 9 Chord contains A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭. Its sound is very open, smooth and sophisticated.
Character and sound
Very open, smooth and sophisticated.
Musical context and history
The major ninth extends maj7 with a ninth and is widely used in jazz, neo-soul, bossa nova, R&B and cinematic harmony.
How and where it is used
It is common on tonic and subdominant harmony when density is desired without strong dominant tension.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
From A♭, the dominant is E♭, the subdominant is C♯ and the relative minor is F. These relationships are useful starting points for progressions.
The formula on this page is 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 and, from A♭, produces the notes A♭ · C · E♭ · G · B♭.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♭ Major 9 Chord?
The notes are A♭, C, E♭, G, B♭.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Very open, smooth and sophisticated. It is common on tonic and subdominant harmony when density is desired without strong dominant tension.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.