F Major 9th
Fmaj9
Notes
F · A · C · E · G
Intervals
- RootF (1P)
- Major 3rdA (3M)
- Perfect 5thC (5P)
- Major 7thE (7M)
- Major 9thG (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The F major 9th (F–A–C–E–G) extends a maj7 with a ninth. The result combines the gentle shimmer of the major-7 interval with the openness of the G. 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 FMaj7, maj9 feels more expansive and less static; the added 9th breathes air into the chord without introducing tension. Compared to F6/9, it is more harmonically active because of the 7th.
Chord diagrams
F 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
- F Lydian (I)
- F Major (I)
- A Natural Minor (VI)
- A Phrygian (VI)
- B Locrian (V)
- B♭ Lydian (V)
- C Major (IV)
- C Mixolydian (IV)
- D Dorian (III)
- D Natural Minor (III)
- E Locrian (II)
- E Phrygian (II)
- G Dorian (VII)
- G Mixolydian (VII)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.