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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 Bb2 · Ab3 fingers 5–1
Right hand D4 · C#5 fingers 1–5

How to play the B7#9 chord on piano

Split the recommended voicing between the hands: play Bb2 and Ab3 with the left hand and D4 and C#5 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.

Notation for B7#9 chord

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

Music theory name: seventh sharp nine chord

Common name: B Hendrix chord

Intervals and tones in B7#9 chord

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

More chords with B as the root

The same chord type in other keys