Piano chord
B♭m9B flat minor ninth
- B♭1
- D♭♭3
- F5
- A♭♭7
- C9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play B♭m9 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play B♭ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on D♭, 3 on A♭, 5 on C.
- Leave out F: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ – C
1st inversion · D♭ – F – A♭ – C – B♭
2nd inversion · F – A♭ – C – B♭ – D♭
3rd inversion · A♭ – C – B♭ – D♭ – F
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
B♭m9 inversions
B♭m9 can be played in 4 positions. In root position B♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: B♭B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ – C
- 1st inversionbass: D♭D♭ – F – A♭ – C – B♭
- 2nd inversionbass: FF – A♭ – C – B♭ – D♭
- 3rd inversionbass: A♭A♭ – C – B♭ – D♭ – F
B♭m9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays B♭, the right hand plays the colour notes D♭–A♭–C. Notes that can be left out are left out.
B♭m9 on other instruments
About the B♭m9 chord
B flat minor ninth has 5 notes: B♭ (1), D♭ (♭3), F (5), A♭ (♭7), C (9). A minor ninth: a minor seventh with the ninth. Lush and mellow, heard in neo-soul and jazz ballads.
On the keyboard, start from B♭ and add the other notes above it: B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ – C. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play B♭ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of B♭m9 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–F–A♭–C–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–C–B♭–D♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C–B♭–D♭–F).
B♭m9 is B♭m7 with one note added: C.
Questions
What notes are in the B♭m9 chord?
B♭m9 (B flat minor ninth) has 5 notes: B♭ (1), D♭ (♭3), F (5), A♭ (♭7), C (9).
How many inversions does B♭m9 have?
B♭m9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B♭–D♭–F–A♭–C); 1st inversion (D♭–F–A♭–C–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–A♭–C–B♭–D♭); 3rd inversion (A♭–C–B♭–D♭–F).
What is the difference between B♭m9 and B♭m7?
B♭m9 is B♭m7 with one note added: C.
Can I play B♭m9 with one hand?
In root position B♭m9 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.