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B7#9 Piano Chord

A raw, urgent sound containing both a major third and a minor third (augmented ninth = minor third). Made famous by Jimi Hendrix in "Purple Haze". A staple of blues-rock and funk.

Piano

Recommended voicing
Left hand B2 · A3 fingers 5–1
Right hand D#4 · D5 fingers 1–5

How to play the B7#9 chord on piano

Split the recommended voicing between the hands: play B2 and A3 with the left hand and D#4 and D5 with the right. Suggested fingering is 5–1 on the left and 1–5 on the right (1 is the thumb). The perfect fifth F# can usually be omitted from an extended chord, keeping the sound clear and the voicing manageable.

Other names for the B7#9 chord

Other names: B 7th sharp 9, B Hendrix chord

Music theory name: seventh sharp nine chord

Common name: B Hendrix chord

Notes and intervals in the B7#9 chord

Note Interval
B Root
D# Major 3rd
F# Perfect 5th
A Minor 7th
D Augmented 9th

More chords with B as the root

The same chord type in other keys

Songs using B7#9

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Frankie Valli