Fmaj9 Chord

The Fmaj9 chord is a major ninth chord built on the root note F. Its notes are F, A, C, E and G.

Major ninth chords are lush and floating. A major seventh chord with a ninth added, they are one of the sweetest sounds in jazz and neo-soul, warm enough to sit still on for a whole bar.

Root

Quality

Fmaj9 on piano

Inversion:

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To play Fmaj9 on piano, take F in the left hand and the remaining notes - A, C, E and G - in the right. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.

Fmaj9 on guitar

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Intermediate

Open

On guitar, Fmaj9 is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.

Play the chord

Fmaj9

F · A · C · E · G

Fmaj9 chord notes

Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9Notes: F · A · C · E · G

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	F
3	Major third	4	A
5	Perfect fifth	7	C
7	Major seventh	11	E
9	Major ninth	14	G

How to use the Fmaj9 chord

The Fmaj9 chord is built from a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a major seventh and a major ninth. Starting from the root F, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: F, A, C, E and G. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Major ninth chords work as the I or IV chord where a major seventh would do, adding depth without changing the function. Bossa nova, jazz, soul and R&B treat them as a default tonic sound.

Common progressions

The Fmaj9 chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.

Pop progression

I → V → vi → IV

F C Dm B♭

Once you are comfortable with Fmaj9, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with Fmaj9 and are a natural next step in your practice.

Cmaj9

C · E · G · B · D

C♯maj9

C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B♯ · D♯

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Fmaj9 chord?

The Fmaj9 chord contains F, A, C, E and G.

Is the Fmaj9 chord major or minor?

Fmaj9 is a major ninth chord. Major ninth chords are lush and floating. A major seventh chord with a ninth added, they are one of the sweetest sounds in jazz and neo-soul, warm enough to sit still on for a whole bar.

How do you play Fmaj9 on piano?

Place your fingers on F, A, C, E and G and play the notes together. On piano, the root is usually played with the little finger of the left hand and the upper notes with the right hand.

How do you play Fmaj9 on guitar?

Fmaj9 is typically played using the fingering shown in the interactive diagram above. You can also try an open position if one of the chord tones lines up with an open string.

What chords work well with Fmaj9?

Fmaj9 pairs naturally with the chords listed in the related chords section. Chords a perfect fifth up or down, relative major or minor chords, and chords sharing two notes are all strong choices.

Keep exploring

Deepen your understanding of the Fmaj9 chord with our other music theory tools.

Browse all chords Explore scales Explore progressions Chord Transposer Chord Finder Try the Piano Open Circle of Fifths