B♭ dominant 9th chord on piano
B♭9 is a dominant 9th chord built on B♭. It uses the notes B♭ - D - F - A♭ - C and sounds rich and funky, a staple of funk, gospel and jazz. It is also written as A♯ dominant 9th.
- Notes
- B♭ D F A♭ C
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 on the upper four notes
- Left hand fingering
- 5 on the root
- Chord symbol
- B♭9
How to play B♭9 step by step
- Find B♭. B♭ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called A♯.
- Add D, 4 half steps above B♭.
- Add F, 7 half steps above B♭.
- Add A♭, 10 half steps above B♭.
- Add C, 14 half steps above B♭.
- Press all 5 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 on the upper four notes of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ dominant 9th chord?
The B♭ dominant 9th chord (B♭9) contains 5 notes: B♭, D, F, A♭, C. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9.
How do you play B♭9 on piano?
Play the root B♭ alone with your left hand, then play D, F, A♭, C with your right hand. That spreads the five notes comfortably across both hands.
Is B♭ dominant 9th the same as A♯ dominant 9th?
Yes. B♭ dominant 9th and A♯ dominant 9th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.