Guitar Chords With Tab

A Major 9 also written: A9

E|--7--
B|--5--
G|--6--
D|--x--
A|--7--
E|--5--

This is a chord I taught Mike McCreedy to play that he used on the Pearl Jam song Yellow Ledbetter.

This chord shape has it's root note on the low E (6th) string.

Hang your thumb over the neck to fret the A at the 5th fret on the low E string. Your ring finger plays the note E located at the 7th fret on the A string. The D string is muted which can be done by letting the flesh under your ring finger rest lightly on the D string while it's fretting the 7th fret on the A string. You middle finger is playing the note C# (which is the Major 3rd of the A9 chord) at the 6th fret of the G string. Your index finger is fretting the 5th fret on the B string. And finally - fret the 7th fret of high E string with your pinky. The 7th fret of the high E string is the note B. We call this B the 9th of the A Major chord. Thus you are playing an A9 chord.

Theoretically speaking an A9 chord would have a flat 7 (b7th) note in it as well. That is why I also called this chord an A Major 9 chord. i.e. it's an A Major chord with the 9th added. An A9 chord is actually an A Dominant 7th chord with a 9th added.

Theory shmeory!

We are more interested in the sound, not musical jargon.

Fact (unlike one of the comments I made in the opening sentence): Mike McCreedy borrowed this chord from Jimi Hendrix.

More Chords

C Dominant 7 also written: C7. Played with the Root note on the 5th string. Includes the D7 shape, movable from the C7.

B Dominant 6 also written: B6