B♭ Major 9th
Also Known As
Hear the B♭ Major 9th chord played for you.
B♭maj9
B♭ – D – F – A – C
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9
Introduction
The B♭ Major 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of B♭, D, F, A, and C. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth.
The Bb Major 9th piano chord (Bbmaj9) consists of the notes Bb, D, F, A, C. It is a major 7th chord with an added major 9th, giving it a lush, sophisticated character often used in jazz, R&B, and neo-soul progressions. Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9 | Scale degrees: 1-3-5-7-9.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Bb Major 9th has 2 flats.
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 diatonic triads built on each degree of the B♭ major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — B♭ Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9
The B♭ Major 9th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5-M7-M9 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5-M7-M9 show the distance between each note in the chord.
B♭ Major 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Bb Major 9th chord?
The Bb Major 9th chord (Bbmaj9) contains five notes: Bb (root), D (major third), F (perfect fifth), A (major seventh), and C (major ninth). It is Bbmaj7 with an added ninth.
How does Bbmaj9 differ from Bb9?
Bbmaj9 has a major seventh (A). Bb9 has a minor seventh (Ab). Bbmaj9 is lush and resolved; Bb9 is dominant.
How is Bbmaj9 used in music?
Bbmaj9 is a rich tonic in Bb Major — one of the most common jazz keys. It appears constantly in jazz standards, big band, and R&B.
What songs use Major 9th chords?
Major 9th chords are signature sounds of jazz, neo-soul, and lo-fi. Bbmaj9 is particularly common because Bb is a standard jazz key.
How does Bbmaj9 differ from Bbadd9?
Bbmaj9 includes the major seventh (A). Bbadd9 has no seventh.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth: Bb–D–A–C is the practical voicing.
Practice Tips
- Play Bbmaj7 then add C — hear the lush ninth.
- Drop the fifth: Bb–D–A–C is standard.
- Bbmaj9 is a jazz essential — Bb is one of the most common jazz keys.
- Practice Cm9 → F13 → Bbmaj9 for the ii–V–I in Bb.
- Bbmaj9 as IV in F Major: Fmaj7 → Bbmaj9 is beautiful.
- Rootless: D–F–A–C (Dm7 shape) for jazz comping.
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.