Piano chord
Fmaj9F major ninth
- F1
- A3
- C5
- E7
- G9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play Fmaj9 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play F with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on E, 5 on G.
- Leave out C: 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 · F – A – C – E – G
1st inversion · A – C – E – G – F
2nd inversion · C – E – G – F – A
3rd inversion · E – G – F – A – C
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
Fmaj9 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Fmaj9. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has F at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: FF – A – C – E – G
- 1st inversionbass: AA – C – E – G – F
- 2nd inversionbass: CC – E – G – F – A
- 3rd inversionbass: EE – G – F – A – C
Fmaj9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays F, the right hand plays the colour notes A–E–G. Notes that can be left out are left out.
Fmaj9 on other instruments
About the Fmaj9 chord
The 5 notes of F major ninth are F (1), A (3), C (5), E (7), G (9). A major ninth: a major seventh with the ninth. One of the most colourful major chords, used in jazz and modern pop.
Put your thumb on F and count up: F – A – C – E – G. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split Fmaj9: F in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of Fmaj9 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is A (A–C–E–G–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C (C–E–G–F–A). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E (E–G–F–A–C).
Add G to Fmaj7 and you have Fmaj9.
Questions
What notes are in the Fmaj9 chord?
Fmaj9 (F major ninth) has 5 notes: F (1), A (3), C (5), E (7), G (9).
How many inversions does Fmaj9 have?
Fmaj9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F–A–C–E–G); 1st inversion (A–C–E–G–F); 2nd inversion (C–E–G–F–A); 3rd inversion (E–G–F–A–C).
What is the difference between Fmaj9 and Fmaj7?
Add G to Fmaj7 and you have Fmaj9.
Can I play Fmaj9 with one hand?
In root position Fmaj9 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.