G9 chord on guitar

G9 is G, B, D, F and A. The usual shape is 3-2-0-2-0-1. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

3-2-0-2-0-1 · open · medium

Notes: G · B · D · F · A
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: 3-2-0-2-0-1

How to play G9 on guitar

Shape 1, 3-2-0-2-0-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

F: index finger, 1st fret of the high E string.
B: middle finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
A: ring finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
G: pinky finger, 3rd fret of the low E string.
Leave the D and B strings open: D and B.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play G9

3-5-3-4-3-5: barre shape at the 3rd fret, medium. Built on the E9 open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-10-7-10-8-7: partial barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.
15-12-12-12-12-13: partial barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

G9 the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open E9 shape (0-2-0-1-0-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open C9 shape (x-3-2-3-3-3). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

G9 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with G9, using the first shape of each chord.

C (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): G9 (3-2-0-2-0-1) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share G, which is why the change sounds smooth. C on guitar
Cmaj7 (I in C major): G9 (3-2-0-2-0-1) to Cmaj7 (x-3-2-0-0-0): the index finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret. The two chords share G and B, which is why the change sounds smooth. Cmaj7 on guitar
Am7 (vi in C major): G9 (3-2-0-2-0-1) to Am7 (x-0-2-0-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. G and A carry over from one chord to the other. Am7 on guitar

G9 is a dominant ninth: G7 with the ninth on top. G9 is the funk and soul version of G7, fuller on top and still pulling toward its resolution. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice G9 in two minutes

Before strumming, play 3-2-0-2-0-1 note by note: G then B then D then A then B then F. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 3-2-0-2-0-1 and 3-5-3-4-3-5, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with G9

G9 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: G9 on piano and G9 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Related G chords on guitar

Other dominant ninth chords

G9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in G9 on guitar?

G, B, D, F and A. In the 3-2-0-2-0-1 shape the strings play G (low E string), B (A string), D (D string, open), A (G string), B (B string, open) and F (high E string), so B is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play G9 on guitar?

G9 takes a little stretching on guitar; start with 3-2-0-2-0-1. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is G9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: 3-2-0-2-0-1 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does G9 start on?

In the 3-2-0-2-0-1 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 3rd fret, which is G, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes G, B, D, F and A and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.