F Major 9th
Hear the F Major 9th chord played for you.
Fmaj9
F – A – C – E – G
Formula:R-M3-P5-M7-M9
Intervals:P1-M3-P5-M7-M9
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-7-9
Introduction
The F Major 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of F, A, C, E, and G. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth.
The F Major 9th piano chord (Fmaj9) consists of the notes F, A, C, E, G. 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 F Major 9th has 1 flat.
B♭
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 F Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — F Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5-M7-M9
Intervals: P1-M3-P5-M7-M9
The F 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.
F Major 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the F Major 9th chord?
The F Major 9th chord (Fmaj9) contains five notes: F (root), A (major third), C (perfect fifth), E (major seventh), and G (major ninth). It is Fmaj7 with an added ninth.
How does Fmaj9 differ from F9?
Fmaj9 has a major seventh (E). F9 has a minor seventh (Eb). Fmaj9 is lush and resolved; F9 is dominant and tense.
How is Fmaj9 used in music?
Fmaj9 is the IV chord in C Major jazz harmony — one of the most beautiful chord sounds in music. It appears in bossa nova, jazz ballads, neo-soul, and sophisticated pop.
What songs use Major 9th chords?
Major 9th chords are signature sounds of neo-soul, jazz, and lo-fi. Fmaj9 as the IV in C Major is one of the most commonly heard maj9 voicings.
How does Fmaj9 differ from Fadd9?
Fmaj9 includes the major seventh (E). Fadd9 has no seventh. Fmaj9 is warmer and more complex.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth: F–A–E–G is the practical voicing. All white keys — one of the easiest maj9 voicings.
Practice Tips
- Play Fmaj7 then add G — hear the lush ninth expand the chord.
- Fmaj9 without the fifth is all white keys: F–A–E–G — one of the easiest maj9 voicings to play.
- Fmaj9 as the IV in C Major is one of the most beautiful sounds in music — try Cmaj9 → Fmaj9.
- Practice Gm9 → C13 → Fmaj9 for the jazz ii–V–I in F.
- Fmaj9 in bossa nova: pair it with gentle syncopation for an instantly Brazilian feel.
- Rootless: A–C–E–G (Am7 shape) for jazz comping when the bassist covers F.
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.