dominant ninth chord generator
Build and Listen to Dominant Ninth Chords
A dominant ninth adds a major ninth to a dominant seventh. C9 contains C, E, G, B-flat and D. The major third E and minor seventh B-flat retain the dominant quality while D adds an upper extension.
Play C9 and compare Cmaj9 to hear only the seventh change. Then select G9: G, B, D, F and A. Listen to B and F separately before moving to the C major tool to hear a possible dominant-to-tonic resolution.
Play the instrument ↑- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
- Semitone offsets
- 0 · 4 · 7 · 10 · 14
- C reference
- C · E · G · B♭ · D
- Sound
- Sine reference · A4 = 440 Hz
A dominant seventh with an unaltered ninth
A dominant ninth adds a major ninth to a dominant seventh. C9 contains C, E, G, B-flat and D. The major third E and minor seventh B-flat retain the dominant quality while D adds an upper extension.
C9 is not Cadd9: C9 contains B-flat. It is also not Cmaj9, which uses B natural. The word dominant describes chord quality here even when the chord is not acting as a dominant in a particular key.
- Degree 1 is 0 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 3 is 4 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 5 is 7 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 7 is 10 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 9 is 14 semitones above the root in this reference.
A listening test for 9
Play C9 and compare Cmaj9 to hear only the seventh change. Then select G9: G, B, D, F and A. Listen to B and F separately before moving to the C major tool to hear a possible dominant-to-tonic resolution.
The Compare major ninth button retains your chosen root and octave and plays the comparison in root position. Set the current chord to root position for a direct comparison. The note buttons let you isolate the chord member that makes this quality different.
Follow the selected bass through each voicing
This 5-tone reference offers 5 positions. Root position starts with degree 1; First inversion starts with degree 3; Second inversion starts with degree 5; Third inversion starts with degree 7; Fourth inversion starts with degree 9. The bass suffix beneath the chord symbol identifies the actual lowest tone.
Root position preserves compound ninths, elevenths and thirteenths at their original height. The inversion selector first moves the extensions into one octave, sorts by sounding pitch and rotates from the selected degree. These close pitch-class study voicings are different from the complete extended root-position stack; they are not recommended jazz fingerings.
Dominant ninths can extend V7 or appear as color chords in blues and other styles. A symbol alone does not guarantee a V-to-I function. Use the displayed root and guide tones to judge the progression you are working with.
Check C, F and A before transposing further
Begin with C and confirm C · E · G · B♭ · D. Use the F and A example buttons to transpose the same interval collection. Follow the MIDI values if an enharmonic spelling looks unfamiliar: changing the root shifts every sounding note by the same interval.
Use Root octave 2 for a lower reference or octave 5 for a higher one. A root change keeps your selected voicing; the example buttons return to root position. Reset restores C, octave 3 and root position. Stop sound ends the currently active chord or arpeggio.
What playback and the WAV file contain
The displayed notes are synthesized locally using sine waves after your click. The tool does not create a progression, transcribe a song, provide guitar fingering or simulate an acoustic instrument. No camera, microphone, registration or file upload is needed.
Download WAV saves the currently displayed voicing as a 2.4-second mono PCM file at 44.1 kHz with a short fade. It does not export the comparison chord or an arpeggiated performance. If Web Audio is unavailable, the note display and WAV download remain usable.
Theoretical note names preserve each degree and may use double accidentals. Equal-tempered playback gives enharmonic notes the same frequency. This browser tool does not add new extended-chord gestures to the webcam instrument; that instrument has its own triad, inversion and seventh controls.
Play the separate gesture instrument → · Local processing and privacy →
Answers before you play
Dominant Ninth Chord Questions
What are the notes in C dominant ninth?
C · E · G · B♭ · D. The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9, with semitone offsets 0, 4, 7, 10, 14. These are the complete notes sounded by this generator in root position.
How does this differ from major ninth?
Play C9 and compare Cmaj9 to hear only the seventh change. Then select G9: G, B, D, F and A. Listen to B and F separately before moving to the C major tool to hear a possible dominant-to-tonic resolution.
Are these standard performance voicings?
Dominant ninths can extend V7 or appear as color chords in blues and other styles. A symbol alone does not guarantee a V-to-I function. Use the displayed root and guide tones to judge the progression you are working with. The tool states its complete formula and uses close pitch-class rotations for inversion study. Performance omissions and spacing depend on the instrument and musical context.
Can I play and export without a camera?
Yes. Click Play chord or Play arpeggio for local audio. Download WAV saves the displayed chord even if live audio is unavailable. Camera and microphone permission are never requested.
Why does the displayed accidental look unusual?
C9 is not Cadd9: C9 contains B-flat. It is also not Cmaj9, which uses B natural. The word dominant describes chord quality here even when the chord is not acting as a dominant in a particular key. Note letters follow chord degrees; MIDI numbers show the actual pitches at A4 = 440 Hz.