A♭9 8-string bass chord

How to play A♭9 on 8-string bass

The most common way, the first shape above: your ring finger on the F♯ string at the 2nd fret, your index finger on the B string at the 1st fret, your little finger on the E string at the 2nd fret and your middle finger on the A string at the 1st fret. Don’t play the D, G, C and F strings.

From the F♯ string 2 1 2 1 x x x x (x: not played, 0: open)

What notes are in A♭9?

A♭9, A♭ dominant ninth, is A♭, C, E♭, G♭ and B♭: the root (A♭), the major third (C), the perfect fifth (E♭), the minor seventh (G♭) and the ninth (B♭). Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7 9.

Can I play A♭7 instead of A♭9?

Yes. A♭9 is A♭7 with B♭ added; on guitar the root or fifth is often left out to make room for it.

What is the difference between A♭9 and A♭add9?

A♭9 has the minor seventh, G♭, under the ninth; A♭add9 has the ninth with no seventh.