F9 chord on ukulele

F9 is F, A, C, E♭ and G. The easiest shape is 0-3-1-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

0-3-1-0 · open · easy

Notes: F · A · C · E♭ · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: 0-3-1-0

How to play F9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 0-3-1-0, reading from the G string on the left:

Put your index finger on the E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
Put your middle finger on the C string at the 3rd fret, which is E♭.
The open G and A strings add G and A; don't touch them.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play F9

8-7-5-8: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
10-9-11-10: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Playing F9 with a capo

A capo turns an open chord into F9: capo on the 5th fret and play the open C9 shape (0-2-0-1). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Changing from F9 to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold F9 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

B♭ (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): F9 (0-3-1-0) to B♭ (3-2-1-1): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the A string, 1st fret, the ring finger comes down on the C string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 3rd fret. F carries over from one chord to the other. B♭ on ukulele
B♭maj7 (I in B♭ major): F9 (0-3-1-0) to B♭maj7 (3-2-1-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger goes to the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the G string, 3rd fret. F and A carry over from one chord to the other. B♭maj7 on ukulele
Gm7 (vi in B♭ major): F9 (0-3-1-0) to Gm7 (0-2-1-1): your index finger stays put, move the middle finger to the A string, 1st fret, the ring finger comes down on the C string, 2nd fret. Listen for F and G, which stay put while the rest moves. Gm7 on ukulele

F9 is a dominant ninth: F7 with the ninth on top. With four strings, shape 1 leaves out the perfect fifth (C); the ear fills it in, and the chord still reads as F9. The usual guitar shape, 1-0-1-0-1-1, has room for all of them. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

A short F9 drill

Arpeggiate 0-3-1-0 from the lowest string: G, E♭, F, A. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Finish by moving between 0-3-1-0 and 8-7-5-8 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Where F9 shows up

F9 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try F9 on piano or F9 on guitar, or compare them on the F9 chord page.

Next to try on ukulele

Other dominant ninth chords

F9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in F9 on ukulele?

F, A, C, E♭ and G. In the 0-3-1-0 shape the strings play G (G string, open), E♭ (C string), F (E string) and A (A string, open).

What's the easiest way to play F9 on ukulele?

0-3-1-0, the first shape on this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is F9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 0-3-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does F9 start on?

In the 0-3-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string, open, which is G, the ninth.

Every shape above plays only F, A, C, E♭ and G, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.