Ebm9 Guitar Chord

Ebm9 is the E flat minor ninth chord. It has five notes: E flat, G flat, B flat, D flat and F. The main shape puts the root on the A string at the 6th fret, with one finger across the top three strings and no barre across the neck.

Root on the A string at the 6th fret, index reaching back to the D string, and the ring finger laid across the top three strings. Five strings, no full barre, movable.

How to play Ebm9, step by step

Index finger: 4th fret, D string
Middle finger: 6th fret, A string
Ring finger: press flat across the G to high E strings at fret 6
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

Everything moves as one block. The middle finger on the A string names the chord: two frets down the same grip is C#m9, two up it is Fm9.

More ways to play Ebm9

There are 2 common Ebm9 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.

Ebm9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 11, played 11 13 11 11 11 13 — Barre at fret 11

If notes go missing

The high E chokes under the ring finger: The ring finger covers three strings at the 6th fret and the high E is at the edge of it. Lay the finger flat along its whole length rather than pressing with the pad alone.
The stretch back to the D string fails: The index sits at the 4th fret, two behind the rest. It holds the flat third, so if it mutes or buzzes the chord loses its minor sound. Point the elbow in toward the body to ease the reach.
The low E rings: It is not in the chord. Begin the strum on the A string, or touch the low E with the tip of the middle finger to keep it silent.

What makes it an Ebm9

E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · D♭ · F 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9

Ebm9 is an Ebm7 chord with a ninth added: E flat, G flat, B flat and D flat make the minor seventh, and the F makes it a ninth. In the main shape the F sits on the B string, inside the chord rather than above it.

It is the ii chord in the key of C sharp, which flat key players write as D flat, and the vi of G flat. Those are piano and horn keys, so a guitarist usually meets Ebm9 in soul, gospel and jazz charts rather than in guitar written songs.

Ebm9 vs Ebm7

Ebm9 is Ebm7 with an F added. The minor seventh is quiet and settled; the ninth puts a whole step of tension an octave above the root, and the chord starts to shimmer instead of just sitting there.

Neither chord has an open shape, so both are movable grips. Where a chart in a flat key writes Ebm7, the ninth almost always fits, and in soul it is usually what the record actually plays.

Ebm9 chord questions

Is Ebm9 the same as D#m9?

Yes, one chord with two names. E flat suits the flat keys this chord appears in, so it is the spelling used here.

What is the difference between Ebm9 and Ebm7?

Ebm9 has an F, the ninth, added to the four notes of Ebm7. Same chord, more colour on top.

Does Ebm9 need a barre?

Not a full one. The main shape lays the ring finger across three strings while the index and middle work alone. A six string barre version at the 11th fret is on this page for when the full sound is wanted.

Where is Ebm9 used?

As the ii chord in D flat, as the vi in G flat, and across soul, gospel and jazz, where flat keys are home ground.

Do you strum all six strings?

In the main shape, no: start on the A string so E flat is the lowest note. The barre shape higher up uses all six.