Major Ninth Chord

The Major Ninth Chord extends the Major Seventh Chord by adding a major ninth. The notes are: root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth. Its sound is rich, lush, and very 'open', with a clear melodic tendency given by the ninth. It is a chord that conveys a deep sense of calm, refinement, and completeness, and is a cornerstone of jazz, neo-soul, and ambient music. It serves as an enriched tonic (I) or subdominant (IV) chord, offering greater depth and harmonic 'air' compared to the simpler Maj7, making it ideal for creating contemplative or elegant atmospheres.

Common Progressions

• Imaj9 - IVmaj7 (or IVmaj9): the Maj9 on the first degree creates an extremely elegant and rich tonic, very common in harmonic jazz.
• ii - V7 - Imaj9 (the resolution on the I degree as Maj9 is a jazz classic for a complete, sophisticated, and distinct final sound)
• Can be used as a substitute or enrichment for a Maj7 or Maj6 to add color, 'air', and complexity to existing progressions.