Piano chord
A♭m(add9)A flat minor added ninth
- A♭1
- C♭♭3
- E♭5
- B♭9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play A♭m(add9) on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 2 on C♭, 3 on E♭, 5 on B♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 4 on C♭, 3 on E♭, 1 on B♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – B♭
1st inversion · C♭ – E♭ – B♭ – A♭
2nd inversion · E♭ – B♭ – A♭ – C♭
3rd inversion · B♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭m(add9) inversions
A♭m(add9) can be played in 4 positions. In root position A♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
A♭m(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–C♭–E♭–B♭.
A♭m(add9) on other instruments
About the A♭m(add9) chord
A flat minor added ninth has 4 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5), B♭ (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
On the keyboard, start from A♭ and add the other notes above it: A♭ – C♭ – E♭ – B♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play A♭ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of A♭m(add9) puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E♭–B♭–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–B♭–A♭–C♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–A♭–C♭–E♭).
A♭m(add9) is A♭m with one note added: B♭.
Questions
What notes are in the A♭m(add9) chord?
A♭m(add9) (A flat minor added ninth) has 4 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E♭ (5), B♭ (9).
How many inversions does A♭m(add9) have?
A♭m(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A♭–C♭–E♭–B♭); 1st inversion (C♭–E♭–B♭–A♭); 2nd inversion (E♭–B♭–A♭–C♭); 3rd inversion (B♭–A♭–C♭–E♭).
What is the difference between A♭m(add9) and A♭m?
A♭m(add9) is A♭m with one note added: B♭.
Can I play A♭m(add9) with one hand?
In root position A♭m(add9) spans 14 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.