Chord Shapes

Dominant 9th

Intervals: 1-3-5-b7-9. A dominant 7th with an added 9th, one of the most standard dominant extensions in jazz, soul and funk. From the perspective of the parent Mixolydian scale the 9th is a diatonic colour tone that softens the bare 7th chord and fills out the upper register. Many practical voicings omit the 5th and sometimes the root, keeping 3-b7-9 as the core, especially on guitar and piano. Dominant 9ths are idiomatic on V chords in turnarounds and on static groove chords (e.g. the IV9 in a blues). They give a warmer, richer flavour than a plain 7th while retaining clear dominant pull.