E9 Chord on Guitar
E9 = E – G# – B – D – F# (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th, Major 9th)
E9 is one of the more genuinely common chords in this whole set — built in open position from the E7 shape with a ninth added, it's a staple sound in blues, soul, and funk rhythm guitar precisely because it resolves so naturally to A, one of the guitar's favorite open keys.
E, G#, B, D, and F# make up the chord — root, third, fifth, flat seventh, ninth. As V9 of A major it's the dominant chord blues and soul players reach for constantly, since A-major (and A-blues) material is everywhere on guitar and E9 gives that resolution a fuller, funkier color than a plain E7 would.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Three extra fingers are needed across the A, G, and high e strings, all reachable comfortably in open position — practice landing this shape cleanly right from an A-major chord and back, since that specific transition (A to E9 and resolving back to A) is one of the most common real-world moves this chord makes. Listen for whether the open high e string (carrying the ninth) rings clearly above the rest, since that top note is what gives E9 its distinctive brightness compared to plain E7.
Common Progressions
- A – E9 – A (IV-ish return, V9 – I in A major)
- E9 – A (V9 – I)
- D – E9 – A (IV – V9 – I, a classic blues-adjacent cadence)
- A – D – E9 – A (I – IV – V9 – I, a 12-bar-blues-style turnaround)
FAQ
- Why is E9 so common in blues and soul guitar?
- It resolves naturally to A major, one of the most frequently used guitar keys, and the added ninth gives the dominant chord a fuller, funkier color than a plain E7 while keeping the same essential pull toward resolution.
- Does E9 need a barre?
- No — like every E-rooted chord in this shape family, it's played entirely in open position, since the barre fret for an E root falls right at the nut.
- How does E9 compare in difficulty to D#9, built from the same shape?
- It's noticeably easier, since open position offers wider string spacing and no barre to hold, while D#9 uses the identical fingering pattern crammed into the tight eleventh fret.
- What's a good way to hear the difference between E7 and E9?
- Play E7 and then simply add the extra finger on the high e string that turns it into E9 — comparing the two directly, with only the top note changing, isolates exactly what the ninth contributes to the chord's color.
- Where does E9 resolve besides A major?
- It can also function as a secondary dominant briefly tonicizing A minor, since a dominant ninth built on the fifth degree resolves convincingly to either the major or minor tonic sharing that same fifth.
- Is E9 associated with any particular guitar style beyond blues?
- Yes — it's a favorite in funk and soul rhythm playing specifically, where guitarists often favor extended, ninth-colored dominants over plain triads or sevenths for a punchier, more syncopated rhythmic texture.
- Why does the open high e string matter so much in this voicing?
- It's the string carrying the ninth, the note that distinguishes this chord from a plain E7, so if that string doesn't ring clearly the chord loses the exact color that makes it worth choosing over the simpler seventh.
E9 on other instruments: E9 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.