Minor

Minor ninth chords

Minor 7th with added 9th: C-Eb-G-Bb-D. Formula: 1-b3-5-b7-9

In every key

The same shape, moved. The symbols below are spelled the way the app spells them, which is the spelling the chord's own scale asks for rather than whichever accidental is easier to type.

  • Cm9
  • Dbm9
  • Dm9
  • Ebm9
  • Em9
  • Fm9
  • F#m9
  • Gm9
  • Abm9
  • Am9
  • Bbm9
  • Bm9

Voicings

Written in C, because that is the key the encyclopedia authors them in; every one transposes unchanged.

Root Position (no 5th)

C · Eb · Bb · D

intermediate

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Rootless

Eb · Bb · D · G

intermediate

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Contemporary

D · Eb · Bb · C

advanced

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Kenny Barron (1-5-9-b3-b7)

C · G · D · Eb · Bb

advanced

Kenny Barron signature — stacked 5ths in the bass, b3+b7 above

McCoy Open-5th + Quartal (1-5-b3-b7-9)

C · G · Eb · Bb · D

advanced

Open 5th in the bass under a quartal upper — McCoy Tyner minor sound

Rootless A (b3-5-b7-9)

Eb · G · Bb · D

intermediate

RH 1-2-3-5; pure thirds-and-ninth stack, let it ring.

Mulgrew Miller Spread (1-b7-b3-5-9)

C · Bb · Eb · G · D

advanced

LH 5 on C, 1 reaches up to Bb; RH 1-2-5 on Eb-G-D; pedal to bind the leap.

Where it turns up

Richer minor color. Popular in modal jazz and contemporary standards. The 9th adds warmth.

Commonly swapped with

  • Cm7
  • Cm11
  • Ebmaj7

Progressions that use it

Every one of these is written out with the hands on a keyboard and on a stave.