Gbm9 Ukulele Chord
Gbm9 on ukulele is 11-9-12-11: put your index finger on the 9th fret of the C string, your middle finger on the 11th fret of the g string, your ring finger on the 11th fret of the A string and your little finger on the 12th fret of the E string. It is a four-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. You will also see it written as F#m9, F sharp minor ninth.
- Notes: Gb, A, Db, E and Ab
- Frets: 11 9 12 11
- Tuning: g C E A
Gbm9 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Minor 9th
- Also known as
- F#m9, or Gb minor ninth
- Formula
- 1 b3 5 b7 9
- Intervals
- Gb (root), A (minor 3rd), Db (perfect 5th), E (minor 7th), Ab (major 9th)
- Notes
- Gb, A, Db, E and Ab
- Frets
- 11 9 12 11
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Gbm9 chord
Here is the Gbm9 chord step by step:
- Put your middle finger on the 11th fret of the g string.
- Put your index finger on the 9th fret of the C string.
- Put your little finger on the 12th fret of the E string.
- Put your ring finger on the 11th 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 Gbm9?
Yes: play it as 1-4-2-0. Put your index finger on the 1st fret of the g string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the E string, your ring finger on the 4th fret of the C string and leave the A string open. It uses three fingers instead of four. Use it while the main shape is still settling, then go back to the full voicing for the bigger sound.
What notes are in the Gbm9 chord?
The Gbm9 chord is built from five notes: Gb, A, Db, E and Ab (the root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th and major 9th). Minor sevenths are the smooth, mellow ones. They feel relaxed and a little jazzy, softer than a plain minor. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Ukulele songs that use the Gbm9 chord
Want to go further?
Once Gbm9 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Gb7, Gbmaj7, Gbm and Gb. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.