by Wonderlane
Yes, I mentioned “Funk.”
Utilizing 9th chords is an excellent way to add some flavor to your guitar rhythms. They have various uses, and once you master them, they can quickly become a staple part of your playing.
Let’s examine a popular fingering pattern for a 9th chord to use in creating a “funky” sound.
Here’s an example of a “C” 9th chord you can play right now:
E———-3———————-
B———-3———————-
G———-3———————-
D———-2———————-
A———-3———————-
E———————————-
This chord is played with the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string, the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string, and the 3rd finger barring the notes on the 3rd fret of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings. The 6th string is not played or muted.
The note on the 5th string in this fingering pattern of the 9th chord is the root note. In the example above, the note on the 5th string is played at the 3rd fret, which is a “C” note, making this a “C9th” chord.
You can simply slide this fingering pattern up and down the guitar neck to play it in any key, determined by the root note located on the 5th string.
For example – if you slide this same pattern “up” 2 frets, your 5th string root note is on the 5th fret, which is a “D” note – making the chord a “D9th” chord.
9th chords are used in many “funk” songs, and here’s a popular example using the Wild Cherry hit “Play that Funky Music.”
E—-7——–7—6—7——–9—8—7——6—7——
B—-7——–7—6—7——–9—8—7——6—7——
G—-7——–7—6—7——–9—8—7——6—7——
D—-6——–6—5—6——–8—7—6——5—6——
A—-7——–7—6—7——–9—8—7——6—7——
E————————————————————–
Although it might appear slightly complex at first glance, it’s actually quite simple.
You maintain the same fingering pattern throughout the riff, and the chords merely alternate around the same four frets, spanning between the 6th and 9th frets. Some cool pick-hand strumming, combined with a bit of palm muting, can truly enhance the flavor.
Another Use
Now you can see how 9th chords are excellent for funk-style rhythms, but they can also be used effectively in blues progressions.
In a standard I, IV, V blues progression using all 7th chords, you might try substituting the IV chord and the V chord with 9th’s.
For example – In a blues progression in the key of “A,” using 7th chords, it would look like this:
A, D7, E7
In this case, you can replace the IV chord (D7) and the V chord (E7) with 9ths. The result would look like this:
A, D9, E9
Try playing both versions and see if you can hear the difference. This is a very common way to play a blues progression.
As you advance in your guitar playing journey, be sure to incorporate 9th chords into your repertoire. Eventually, you won’t be able to resist adding some “funk” to your performances!
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME