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Chord · Reference entry

G♯ 6/9

6/9 · G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – E♯ – A♯ · intervals P1-M3-P5-M6-M9

The G♯ 6/9 chord (G♯6/9) contains the notes G♯, B♯, D♯, E♯, and A♯. Its interval formula is R-M3-P5-M6-M9. Major triad plus the 6th and the 9th — a lush, open voicing that's the go-to jazz ending chord.

A♭ 6/9
This is the same chord as A♭ 6/9 — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with flats.

At the keyboard

G# · B# · D# · E# · A#
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on G♯ 6/9
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G♯6/9

The G♯ 6/9 chord is a five-note chord made up of G♯, B♯, D♯, E♯, and A♯. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major sixth, and major ninth.

Construction

G♯ 6/9 = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th + Major 2nd = G♯ · B♯ · D♯ · E♯ · A♯
NoteIntervalDegree
G♯Root1
B♯Major 3rd3
D♯Perfect 5th5
E♯Major 6th6
A♯Major 2nd2

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the G♯ 6/9 is the tonic (I) chord of G# Major, whose key signature has 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).

B♭E♭A♭D♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

BEADGCF

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of G♯ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the G♯ major scale:

C1C2C3C4B♯C6C7C8G♯D♯
IG♯ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IG♯ MajorMajor
2iiA♯ MinorMinor
3iiiC MinorMinor
4IVC♯ MajorMajor
5VD♯ MajorMajor
6viF MinorMinor
7vii°G DiminishedDiminished

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – E♯ – A♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

G♯ 6/9 — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G♯ 6/9 chord on piano?
The G♯ 6/9 chord contains the notes G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – E♯ – A♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the G# 6/9 chord?
The G# 6/9 chord (G#6/9) contains 5 notes: G#, C, D#, F, A#. Formula: R-M3-P5-M6-M9.
How is G#6/9 used in music?
G#6/9 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for G#6/9?
G#6/9 uses scale degrees 1-3-5-6-9, giving it its distinctive sound.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    George Grove (ed.)(1900)

    A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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