7♭9 chord - piano
The 7♭9 chord is a dominant chord with a minor ninth. This alteration creates dark tension, widely used in bebop and modern jazz.
Intervals
| Degree | I | III | V | ♭VII | ♭IX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | Root | Major third | Perfect fifth | Minor seventh | Minor ninth |
| Semitones | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 |
Formula 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - ♭9
Theory
The 7♭9 chord lowers the ninth by a semitone. G7♭9 = G-B-D-F-A♭, C7♭9 = C-E-G-B♭-D♭. The minor ninth creates descending chromatic tension. This chord is particularly effective for resolving to minor chords. The fifth can be omitted for a more compact voicing.
Examples
Example: Do 7♭9
