Am9 Guitar Chord

Am9 is the A minor ninth chord. It has five notes: A, C, E, G and B. The shape on this page is a single finger laid across two strings at the 5th fret, with three open strings doing the rest.

One finger across the D and G strings at the 5th fret, with the open A, B and high E strings filling in the root, ninth and fifth.

How to play Am9, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the D to G strings at fret 5
Leave the A and B and high E strings open. Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

This shape belongs to a family. Keep the finger on the D and G strings and move it: the 5th fret both is Am9, the 6th fret both is Amaj9, and 5 then 6 is A9.

More ways to play Am9

There are 2 common Am9 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Am9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 5, root on the low e, played 575557 — Barre at fret 5, root on the low E

If notes drop out

One of the two fretted strings is dead: One finger covers the D and G strings at the 5th fret. Lay it flat and press with the length of the finger rather than the tip.
The open strings dominate: Three open strings against two fretted ones is unbalanced by nature. Pick a little nearer the middle strings so the C and G in the chord come through.
The low E rings: It is not in the chord. Start the strum on the open A so A is the lowest note.

What makes it an Am9

A · C · E · G · B 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9

Am9 is an Am7 chord with a ninth added: A, C, E and G make Am7, and the B on top makes it a ninth. In this shape the open A gives the root, the open B the ninth and the open high E the fifth.

It is the ii chord in the key of G and a richer stand in for A minor anywhere. Minor ninth chords are the everyday minor of soul and jazz, where a plain minor seventh can sound bare.

Am9 vs Am7

Am9 adds a B to Am7. Am7 is one of the most restful chords on the guitar; Am9 is just as restful with more colour on top.

The shapes are not related, though. Am7 is an open position chord in the first two frets, while Am9 sits at the 5th fret with one finger. Both are easy, in different ways.

Am9 chord questions

Is Am9 really a one finger chord?

In this shape, yes. One finger covers the D and G strings at the 5th fret; the A, B and high E strings stay open and supply the rest of the chord.

What is the difference between Am9 and Am7?

Am9 has a B, the ninth, added to the four notes of Am7. It is a fuller, more modern sounding version of the same chord.

How does Am9 relate to A9 and Amaj9?

All three use the same two strings and the same open strings. Am9 has both fingers at the 5th fret, A9 has the 5th and 6th, and Amaj9 has both at the 6th. One position, three chords.

Where is Am9 used?

As the ii chord in G, as a substitute for A minor in almost any song, and throughout soul, R and B and jazz.

Do you strum the low E?

No. Start on the open A string so the root is the lowest note you hear.