How to play the Bmaj9 chord on guitar

The Bmaj9 chord, pronounced "B major ninth," is a rich and versatile guitar chord that adds a dreamy, sophisticated feel to progressions. Notable for its lush, open sound, the Bmaj9 is favored in jazz, neo-soul, and R&B music. While it requires advanced fingering, the Bmaj9's unique voicing and harmonic complexity make it a compelling choice for adding depth and intrigue to your playing.

The most standard way to play a Bmaj9 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 7th fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a Bmaj9 chord on your guitar:

1. Barre your index finger across the 7th fret, covering all six strings.
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the 5th (A) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 9th fret of the 4th (D) string.

To strum this chord, use your pick or thumb to strum down across all six strings in one fluid motion. Alternatively, you can pluck the individual strings one at a time for a more delicate sound.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Bmaj9 chord, try this:

1. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th (A) string.
2. Place your middle finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Leave the remaining strings open.
4. Strum only the top five strings, avoiding the 6th (low E) string.

The Bmaj9 chord is most commonly played as an open chord, but learning the barre chord version allows you to easily move the shape up and down the fretboard to play maj9 chords with different root notes.

Here's how to play a Bmaj9 barre chord:

1. Barre your index finger across the 7th fret, covering all six strings.
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the 5th (A) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 9th fret of the 4th (D) string.
5. Strum all six strings from the 6th (low E) string.

The Bmaj9 chord adds a dreamy and sophisticated flavor to chord progressions, often evoking a sense of nostalgia or contemplation. Some common progressions featuring the Bmaj9 chord include:

• I - IVmaj9 - I - IVmaj9 (B - Emaj9 - B - Emaj9)
• I - V7 - Imaj9 - VI7 (B - F#7 - Bmaj9 - G#7)
• I - IIImaj9 - IV - V (B - D#maj9 - E - F#)
• Imaj9 - VI7 - IIm7 - V7 (Bmaj9 - G#7 - C#m7 - F#7)
• I - Imaj9 - II7 - V7 (B - Bmaj9 - C#7 - F#7). Used in "Michelle" by The Beatles and "Still Got the Blues" by Gary Moore.

To master the Bmaj9 chord, try playing each note individually, starting from the lowest pitch and ascending to the highest. Focus on cleanly fretting and plucking each string. Once comfortable, play the notes in reverse order, descending from the highest to the lowest pitch.

Next, practice playing the chord as an arpeggio, plucking each note one at a time in a repeating pattern. Experiment with different rhythms and fingerpicking patterns to create interesting melodic phrases. As you become more confident, gradually increase your speed while maintaining accuracy and clarity of each note.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Bmaj9 chord.

1. And I Love Her by The Beatles (Am, Dm, G, C, F, Bm, Esus4, E)
2. This Boy by The Beatles (Dm7, G7, Cmaj7, C6, Bm7-5, E, A)
3. Something by The Beatles (C, Cmaj7, C7, F, D, G, A, Am, Bb, Gm, Abmaj7)
4. In My Life by The Beatles (A, E, F#m, C#m, D, B7, G, Amaj7, F#)
5. Castles Made of Sand by Jimi Hendrix (A7sus4, F#m7, Bm7, E7sus4, Amaj9)
6. Alone Again Or by Love (E, F#m, A, Am, D, Bm, G#m, C#m)
7. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (Am, G, C, D, F, Am/G, D/F#, Fm, Am7/G)
8. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin (Am, G, D, F, A)
9. Blackbird by The Beatles (G, A, B, C, D, E)
10. Julia by The Beatles (Em, Em7, Em6, Cmaj7, Am7, Am6, Bm, B7, B6)