G9 chord on ukulele

G9 is G, B, D, F and A. The usual shape is 2-5-3-2. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

2-5-3-2 · movable · medium

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

How to play G9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-5-3-2, reading from the G string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

A: index finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
B: middle finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
G: ring finger, 3rd fret of the E string.
F: pinky finger, 5th fret of the C string.

Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.
A four-fret stretch: drop your wrist a little and point your thumb up the back of the neck.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play G9

10-9-7-10: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Capo shortcuts for G9

A capo turns an open chord into G9: capo on the 7th 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 G9 to the chords around it

The chords G9 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

C (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): G9 (2-5-3-2) to C (0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 3rd fret. G carries over from one chord to the other. C on ukulele
Cmaj7 (I in C major): G9 (2-5-3-2) to Cmaj7 (0-0-0-2): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret. G and B carry over from one chord to the other. Cmaj7 on ukulele
Am7 (vi in C major): G9 (2-5-3-2) to Am7 (0-0-0-0): every finger moves. Shared notes: G and A. Am7 on ukulele

G9 is a dominant ninth: G7 with the ninth on top. With four strings, shape 1 leaves out the perfect fifth (D); the ear fills it in, and the chord still reads as G9. The usual guitar shape, 3-2-0-2-0-1, has room for all of them. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Getting G9 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, F, G, B. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 10-9-7-10 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Where G9 shows up

G9 on guitar and piano

G9 on guitar and piano uses the same 5 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Close to G9

Other dominant ninth chords

G9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in G9 on ukulele?

G, B, D, F and A. In the 2-5-3-2 shape the strings play A (G string), F (C string), G (E string) and B (A string).

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

G9 has no open-string shape in standard tuning, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. Start with 2-5-3-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is G9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 2-5-3-2 needs no barre.

Which string does G9 start on?

In the 2-5-3-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the ninth.

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