Chord Shapes

Minor Major 9th

Intervals: 1-b3-5-7-9. Extends the mMaj7 chord with a 9th, deepening its melodic-minor, “cinematic” character. The natural 9 is part of the melodic minor scale and gives this chord a haunting, lyrical quality ideal for sustained tonic minor harmonies. In practical voicings, the 5th is often omitted to focus on b3-7-9, and the chord appears in advanced ballads and modal tunes where a minor tonic needs high emotional weight. It is closely associated with the classic jazz minor harmony used in tunes like “Naima”.