E9 Piano Chord

E9 is the E dominant ninth chord. It has five notes: E, G sharp, B, D and F sharp. The stack is wider than an octave, so most players put E in the left hand and the other four notes in the right.

E at the bottom, then G♯, B, D and F♯. Right hand 1-2-3-4-5 if the span is there; otherwise E in the left hand and the other four notes in the right.

How to play E9 on piano, step by step

Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
Thumb (1): E
Index finger (2): G♯
Middle finger (3): B
Ring finger (4): D
Little finger (5): F♯
That reach is wider than an octave, so most players split it: play E with the left hand and the other notes with the right. If you keep it in one hand, use the two-hand split shown on this page. Leaving out the fifth (B) can thin the sound, but it does not shorten the span from the root to the ninth.

On guitar, E9 is the classic funk chord. The piano version is the same five notes doing the same job, and it locks into a rhythm section the same way.

If it sounds wrong

The reach is too wide: E to F sharp is a ninth. Split it: E in the left hand, G sharp, B, D and F sharp in the right. The split is the standard way, not a fallback.
It sounds soft instead of bluesy: The seventh must be D natural. D sharp turns the chord into Emaj9, which floats where E9 drives.
The two black keys get uneven: G sharp sits under the index and F sharp under the little finger, at opposite ends of the hand. Keep the hand level so the outside black key speaks as clearly as the inside one.

What makes it an E9

E · G♯ · B · D · F♯ 1 3 5 ♭7 9

E9 is an E7 chord with an F sharp added: E, G sharp, B and D make the seventh, and the F sharp a ninth above the root completes it.

E9 is the V9 of A, the seventh chord blues, soul and funk actually play instead of the plain E7. A blues in E runs on this chord, and funk keyboard parts sit on it for bars at a time.

E9 vs E7

E9 is E7 with an F sharp on top. Both pull toward A; the ninth adds shine without changing the direction.

Play E7 and add F sharp with the little finger. In funk the chord stops being a step toward somewhere and becomes the groove itself.

E9 in major keys

Every note of E9 sits inside these keys. See how it works alongside the other chords in each one.

A major (V)

Questions about E9

Which notes are in an E9 chord on piano?

E, G sharp, B, D and F sharp. Two black keys, G sharp and F sharp, one near each end of the hand.

What is the difference between E9 and Eadd9?

The seventh. E9 contains D; Eadd9 is the plain E major chord with an F sharp added and no seventh.

Why does this page show no inversions?

This page teaches one practical root-position voicing because a ninth spans more than an octave. Ninth chords can still be inverted: an inversion changes the bass note, and players often reorder or omit notes to fit the hand. The diagrams here keep the beginner-friendly voicing visible.

Can I leave a note out of E9?

The fifth (B) can be omitted when another part supplies the root; this thins the voicing without changing the chord quality.

Where is the E9 chord used?

As the V chord of A, through a blues in E, and all over funk and soul keyboard parts, where it can be the whole groove.