The B♭ 9♭5 chord is a five-note chord made up of B♭, D, F♭, A♭, and C. It is built from a root, major third, diminished fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
B♭ 9♭5 = Root + Major 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd = B♭ · D · F♭ · A♭ · C
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | Root | 1 |
| D | Major 3rd | 3 |
| F♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| A♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| C | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the B♭ 9♭5 is the tonic (I) chord of Bb Major, whose key signature has 2 flats (B♭, E♭).
B♭E♭
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.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of B♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the B♭ major scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes B♭ – D – F♭ – A♭ – C aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
B♭ 9♭5 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the B♭ 9♭5 chord on piano?
The B♭ 9♭5 chord contains the notes B♭ – D – F♭ – A♭ – C. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Bb 9♭5 chord?
The Bb 9♭5 chord (Bb9♭5) contains 5 notes: Bb, D, E, Ab, C. Formula: R-M3-d5-m7-M9.
How is Bb9♭5 used in music?
Bb9♭5 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 Bb9♭5?
Bb9♭5 uses scale degrees 1-3-b5-b7-9, giving it its distinctive sound.