9th Chords are some of my favorite chords to use when playing the blues. So let’s talk about them today…

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    27 replies to "9th Chords"

    • Drew Carlson

      Jame Brown once asked an auditioning guitar player…”Can you play a 9th?”
      He answered, “of course”
      Then the master of funk asked…
      “Yeah..But can you play it ALL Night Long?”

      I love that story.
      Thanks Griff, I am off to learn the 6th string root version.

    • Mike H.

      Plead the ninth… go Griff go.

    • John

      Great video (as always) – I first started using 9th chords on “Rock around the Clock” gives it a jazzy 50s sound – use them a lot these days.

    • Jim P.

      Could you do a video further demonstrating the “funk” beat.? Thanks.

    • david moon

      Maybe it’s obvious, but the funk rhythms are 16th notes, NOT swing/shuffle feel. To count along
      one ee and a two ee and a three ee and a four ee and a…

      • Troy B

        Maybe you need your own channel

    • David A Jarvis

      Many thanks for the funk rhythms starting at 3:50 and especially at 4:09

    • Steve

      I find the 4-note, 4 finger 9th usefull at times and not at all difficult to play. For example, Gary Moore change from F9 to E7#9 is easier for me if I use the 4-note 9th.

    • DaveyJoe

      Excellent video Griff! All of us Blues guys (and gals) need this.

    • Jake L Whicker

      Griff, thanks so much. Your advice is so spot on. So glad you’re my teacher. I believe in life long learning, and you keep it real and relevant.

      • George J

        Griff,

        What an excellent tuition session. So glad to have you around as I never get bored learning from your sessions.

    • Bruce

      The story goes, when Catfish was auditioning for James Brown, he was asked if he could play a 9 chord.
      He said “Yes”. Then they said “But, can you play it All night long.” Ha

    • Paul Puntenney

      What brand of guitar is he playing?

      • LC Overton

        It’s a Suhr, pronounced “sir”
        Really nice guitars, stainless frets!

    • Gaz

      Great timing Griff ,I’ve just in the last few months realy started to use my 9th ( 6th string root 9th took a while) and of course now all my basic blues sounds funky.

    • Robyn

      Good information. Thanks Griff.

    • Ralph Adamo

      Thanks, Griff, for your insights into playing the 9th chords. The 9th chords are indeed magical. I think I first really got to understand and appreciate 9th chords upon hearing James Brown’s “Sex Machine” for the first time. While this was 1970’s funk music, funk music is really an offshoot of R&B, which, of course, includes the blues. The James Brown song was basically one 9th chord with some variations in a unique kind of rhythm. Although I was just a novice guitar player and only knew the most basic chords, like C, E, G, D, and A, and had no idea what a 7th or 9th chord was, I could figure out what James Brown’s guitarist was doing, playing solely by ear and experimenting. I soon got the sound down and then the unique rhythm pattern of the song. So, oddly, even before I started to listen to the blues, the magical 9th chord was my first expansion beyond the most basic chords. Later, I learned that many guitarists refer to the 9th chord as the “James Brown Chord” because it was so vital to his music and sound. The magic stays with you.

    • John

      Thanks Griff. That really was a brilliant lesson. Clear and concise, and just simplified something that I hadn’t grasped before. Now I can play all the 9th chords (I just love that sound), with or without the root and I now know where to use them. I love that 13th as well. Blown away!

    • Charlie Durham

      Thanks for the excellent lesson! You simplify things so well so it`s not such a challenge ,I appreciate all your hard work bringing these videos to us.

    • Brian Leppanen

      Thanks for all of the emails and I appreciate everything you’ve provided.

    • PRuthie

      Could you provide a tab for any of the rhythms that you demonstrate in this video? They are very cool with the chords. Thank you.

    • Pete B

      Hi Griff
      Good to see you back if front of the camera again for an illuminating lesson on 9th chords. Sweet
      Always a pleasure.
      Pete

      • Ted

        If you have the Blues Guitar Unleashed course book or cd check out lesson number three (page 19). You will find these there. Very good lesson.

    • Dave

      Really cool stuff Griff. Thanks for that one.. always been a fan of the jazzy funk sound. Must go back to the disco days.

    • Hadoudy

      Hello
      Can you explain how peter green come to the chords progression in Supernatural.
      It is in Dm. Where is it come from his Bb and C abd A majors.
      Thanks.

      • David Waterbury

        I’m pretty sure it’s a Circle of 4ths. Similar to Gary Moore’s Still Got The Blues.

        • Chris

          thanks griff just learnd 9 cords a month ago that is my favorite cord now it easy for me to do a full 9 cord

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