Ab Minor 9th

Abm9

Notes

Ab · Cb · Eb · Gb · Bb

Intervals

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

Fretboard

EBGDAE357912GbAbBbBEbBEbGbAbBbBAbBbBEbGbEbGbAbBbBBbBEbGbAbGbAbBbBEb

On the fretboard, B represents Cb.

About

The A♭m9 minor ninth (A♭–C♭–E♭–G♭–B♭) extends a minor 7 with a ninth. The B♭ sits above the G♭ and adds an expressive, singing quality. The essential tones are the C♭ (minor identity), G♭ (seventh extension), and B♭ (defining color); the 5th can be dropped to keep voicings clear. m9 chords appear frequently in jazz, neo-soul, and ambient styles as tonic or pre-dominant harmony — for example as ii in a major ii–V–I (A♭m9 → D♭9 → G♭Maj9). Compared to A♭m7, the added 9th gives more emotional dimension without increasing tension.

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