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G Dominant 9th

Dominant 9th · G – B – D – F – A · intervals P1-M3-P5-m7-M9

The G Dominant 9th chord (G9) contains the notes G, B, D, F, and A. Its interval formula is R-M3-P5-m7-M9. A dominant 7th plus the 9th — funkier and brighter than a plain 7th, common in funk and soul.

At the keyboard

G · B · D · F · A
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on G Dominant 9th
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G9

The G Dominant 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of G, B, D, F, and A. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.

Construction

G Dominant 9th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd = G · B · D · F · A
NoteIntervalDegree
GRoot1
BMajor 3rd3
DPerfect 5th5
FMinor 7th♭7
AMajor 2nd9

Key Signature

A dominant chord points home to the key a fifth below its root: the G Dominant 9th is the V (dominant) of C Major, so the relevant key signature is that key’s — no sharps or flats. Spelled as a scale, these notes are G Mixolydian.

Chords in the Key of C Major

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

C1C2C3CEGC5C6C7C8
IC Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IC MajorMajor
2iiD MinorMinor
3iiiE MinorMinor
4IVF MajorMajor
5VG MajorMajor
6viA MinorMinor
7vii°B DiminishedDiminished

G Dominant 9th — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G Dominant 9th chord on piano?
The G Dominant 9th chord contains the notes G – B – D – F – A. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the G Dominant 9th chord?
The G Dominant 9th chord (G9) contains 5 notes: G, B, D, F, A. Formula: R-M3-P5-m7-M9.
How is G9 used in music?
G9 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 G9?
G9 uses scale degrees 1-3-5-b7-9, giving it its distinctive sound.

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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

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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