Seventh Flat Nine Chord Generator

Lower the ninth without changing the dominant core

A dominant seventh flat nine adds a minor ninth to a dominant seventh. C7(flat9) contains C, E, G, B-flat and D-flat. The extension sits thirteen semitones above C in root position and creates strong tension against the root.

The accidental in flat9 lowers the ninth relative to its normal interval, not relative to the spelling of the root. A sharp root can therefore produce a natural note as its flat ninth. The ninth is retained as degree nine, not renamed a second.

• 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 13 semitones above the root in this reference.

A listening test for 7(♭9)

Compare C7(flat9) with C9: D-flat rises to D while the four dominant-seventh tones stay fixed. Hear the D-flat button separately, then choose G7(flat9) and verify the upper A-flat over G, B, D and F.

The Compare dominant 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.

Dominant Ninth chord generator →

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.

Flat-nine dominants often occur in minor-key dominant contexts and can be used chromatically elsewhere. An individual altered chord does not establish the key. Use the notes to plan a resolution rather than assuming an automatic progression.

Learn chord inversions →

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.

All chord formulas and music theory →

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 →