Chord
A♭ Minor 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♭ Minor 9 Chord
A♭ Minor 9 Chord contains A♭, C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭. Its sound is deep, smooth and spacious.
Character and sound
Deep, smooth and spacious.
Musical context and history
The minor ninth extends m7 with a ninth and is a standard sound in jazz, soul, R&B and modern keyboard and guitar harmony.
How and where it is used
It can act as ii, a minor tonic or a sustained modal chord.
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
The A♭ minor harmony can be compared with its parallel major, which keeps the same root, and its relative major at B. The dominant a fifth above, E♭, is another important reference.
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♭ Minor 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?
Deep, smooth and spacious. It can act as ii, a minor tonic or a sustained modal chord.
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.