A Minor 9th

Am9

Notes

A · C · E · G · B

Intervals

  • RootA (1P)
  • Minor 3rdC (3m)
  • Perfect 5thE (5P)
  • Minor 7thG (7m)
  • Major 9thB (9M)

Fretboard

EBGDAE357912EGABCEBCEGABGABCEGEGABCABCEGAEGABCE

About

The Am9 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 (Am9 → D9 → GMaj9). Compared to Am7, the added 9th gives more emotional dimension without increasing tension.

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