An Easier Way To Form Major Ninth Chords Using Minor Third Intervals

In this lesson, we’re focusing on the major ninth chord and how it can be formed using minor third intervals.

The major ninth chord has a common place in gospel music and a vast majority of intermediate and pre-advanced players incorporate it into their playing.

A classic example of the major ninth chord is the C major ninth chord:

…which sounds harmonically sophisticated more than the regular C major triad:

So if you’re interested in learning an easier way to form the major ninth chord, then this lesson is for you. However, before we go any further, let’s refresh our minds on minor third intervals and major ninth chords.

A Short Note On Minor Third Intervals

The relationship between the first and third tones of the minor scale produces the minor third interval. For example, the relationship between the first and third tones of the C minor scale:

…which are C and Eb:

…is a minor third interval.

Additionally, if you’re familiar with any major third interval, you could shrink it by a half-step to produce the minor third interval. Using the D major third interval:

…as a reference, F#:

…can be lowered by a half-step to F:

…to produce D-F:

“Check Out All The Minor Third Intervals On The Keyboard…”

The C minor third:

The C# minor third:

The D minor third:

The Eb minor third:

The E minor third:

The F minor third:

The F# minor third:

The G minor third:

The G# minor third:

The A minor third:

The Bb minor third:

The B minor third:

Now that we’ve refreshed our minds on minor third intervals, let’s go ahead and review major ninth chords.

“What Are Major Ninth Chords?”

The major ninth chord can be broken down into the following chord tones:

The root

The third

The fifth

The seventh

The ninth

Using the C major scale, the C major ninth chord can be formed when the root (C), third (E), fifth (G), seventh (B), and ninth (D) tones:

…are played or heard together.

The major ninth chord is classified as an extended chord because its width exceeds the compass of an octave. For example, the C major ninth chord:

…exceeds the compass of the C octave:

“Check Out All The Major Ninth Chords On The Keyboard…”

C major ninth:

Db major ninth:

D major ninth:

Eb major ninth:

E major ninth:

F major ninth:

Gb major ninth:

G major ninth:

Ab major ninth:

A major ninth:

Bb major ninth:

B major ninth:

How To Form Major Ninth Chords Using Minor Third Intervals

The major ninth chord can be formed using minor third intervals. Two minor third intervals are needed in the formation of the major ninth chord and the interval between both minor third intervals is a whole step.

For example, the C minor third interval:

…and the F minor third interval:

…are a half step apart from each other, consequently, both minor third intervals can be used in the formation of a major ninth chord.

“Here Are All The Minor third intervals On The Keyboard That Are A Half Step Apart From Each Other…”

C and F minor third intervals:

C# and F# minor third intervals:

D and G minor third intervals:

D# and G# minor third intervals:

E and A minor third intervals:

F and Bb minor third intervals:

F# and B minor third intervals:

G and C minor third intervals:

G# and C# minor third intervals:

A and D minor third intervals:

Bb and Eb minor third intervals:

B and E minor third intervals:

Application Of Minor Third Intervals In The Formation Of Major Ninth Chords

Here’s how you can apply the major ninth chord in two simple steps:

1. Determine the root of the major ninth chord
2. Go down a half step and form the minor third intervals

Once the root of the major ninth chord is determined, the minor third intervals could be played a half step below the root.

For example, if the root is Eb:

…we’ll have to go down a half step to D:

…to form the minor third intervals (D and G minor third intervals):

Altogether, D and G minor third intervals:

…played over Eb on the bass:

…produces the Eb major ninth chord:

Following the same procedure, any other major ninth chord can be formed on the keyboard.

“Here’s One More Example, For You…”

If the root is G:

…we’ll have to go down a half step to F#:

…to form the minor third intervals (Fs and B minor third intervals):

Altogether, F# and B minor third intervals:

…played over G on the bass:

…produces the G major ninth chord:

Final Words

Using the chord formation technique you just learned in this lesson, any major ninth chord can be formed. However, you must be sure to follow the principles step-by-step.

In a subsequent lesson, we’ll further our discussion by learning how minor ninth chords can be formed using major third intervals.

See you then!

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Chuku Onyemachi

Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group

Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

Latest posts by Chuku Onyemachi (see all)

• CHORD UPGRADE: How To INSTANTLY Upgrade Triads And Seventh Chords To Ninth Chords
• The Formation Of Diminished Seventh Chords Used To Be Challenging Until I Did This
• How To Form Seventh Chords In Two Shakes Of A Dog’s Tail Using Third Intervals And The Circle Of Fifths Chart
• I Played The 13sus4 Chord And This Happened…
• How To Build Seventh Chords Like An Architect Using “Foundation And Structure” Concept