A Major 9th
Amaj9
Notes
A · C♯ · E · G♯ · B
Intervals
- RootA (1P)
- Major 3rdC♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thE (5P)
- Major 7thG♯ (7M)
- Major 9thB (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The A major 9th (A–C♯–E–G♯–B) extends a maj7 with a ninth. The result combines the gentle shimmer of the major-7 interval with the openness of the B. The 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the essential tones — the 5th is typically dropped on guitar, since it adds little harmonic information and clutters the voicing. Common in jazz and R&B as a tonic or subdominant color. Compared to AMaj7, maj9 feels more expansive and less static; the added 9th breathes air into the chord without introducing tension. Compared to A6/9, it is more harmonically active because of the 7th.
Chord diagrams
A Major 9th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- A Lydian (I)
- A Major (I)
- A♭ Locrian (II)
- A♭ Phrygian (II)
- B Dorian (VII)
- B Mixolydian (VII)
- D Lydian (V)
- D♭ Natural Minor (VI)
- D♭ Phrygian (VI)
- E Major (IV)
- E Mixolydian (IV)
- E♭ Locrian (V)
- F♯ Dorian (III)
- F♯ Natural Minor (III)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.