B9 Ukulele Chord
B9 on ukulele is 4-3-5-4: put your index finger on the 3rd fret of the C string, your middle finger on the 4th fret of the g string, your ring finger on the 4th fret of the A string and your little finger on the 5th fret of the E string. It is a four-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast.
- Notes: B, Eb, Gb, A and Db
- Frets: 4 3 5 4
- Tuning: g C E A
B9 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Dominant 9th
- Also known as
- B ninth
- Formula
- 1 3 5 b7 9
- Intervals
- B (root), Eb (major 3rd), Gb (perfect 5th), A (minor 7th), Db (major 9th)
- Notes
- B, Eb, Gb, A and Db
- Frets
- 4 3 5 4
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the B9 chord
Here is the B9 chord step by step:
- Put your middle finger on the 4th fret of the g string.
- Put your index finger on the 3rd fret of the C string.
- Put your little finger on the 5th fret of the E string.
- Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the A string.
- Strum all four strings.
It is a bit of a stretch, so go slow and let your hand learn the shape. These quick tips for tricky chords help. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play B9?
Not really. 4-3-5-4 is already the simplest playable shape for B9 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the B9 chord?
The B9 chord is built from five notes: B, Eb, Gb, A and Db (the root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th and major 9th). That flat seventh makes a dominant 7th restless. It leans forward and wants to resolve to the next chord, which is why it turns up all over blues and folk. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Ukulele songs that use the B9 chord
- TV GirlBlue Hair
- Bruno MarsVersace On The Floor
- Side AForevermore
- wave to earthbad
- Whitney HoustonSaving All My Love For You
- Mayday ParadeAmber Lynn
- Rebecca SugarPart Of The Madness (from Adventure Time Fionna And Cake)
- George GershwinSomeone To Watch Over Me
- Noah KahanGodlight
- BjörkIt’s Oh So Quiet (It’s Oh So Quiet)
Want to go further?
Once B9 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try B7, Bmaj7, Bm and B. B9 pairs most often with E, Gb and Abm, so the few basic chords next to it go a long way. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.