Ab Dominant 9th

Ab9

Notes

Ab · C · Eb · Gb · Bb

Intervals

  • RootAb (1P)
  • Major 3rdC (3M)
  • Perfect 5thEb (5P)
  • Minor 7thGb (7m)
  • Major 9thBb (9M)

Fretboard

EBGDAE357912GbAbBbCEbCEbGbAbBbAbBbCEbGbEbGbAbBbCBbCEbGbAbGbAbBbCEb

About

The A♭9 dominant ninth (A♭–C–E♭–G♭–B♭) extends a dominant 7 with a ninth. The B♭ adds brightness and harmonic richness without affecting the chord’s dominant function — the tritone between C and G♭ is still present and still drives resolution to D♭. The 3rd and ♭7 remain essential; the 5th is routinely dropped on guitar to make room for the 9th without creating a muddy cluster. Common in funk, jazz, and blues as a more colorful version of the dominant 7. Compared to A♭7, the 9th adds shimmer and modernity; the resolution tendency is identical.

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