Guitar arpeggio

B Minor 9 Guitar Arpeggio

B Minor 9 is a five-note arpeggio built from B, D, F#, A, and C#. It is also commonly called B Minor Ninth and Bm9. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.

Chord tones
B, D, F#, A, C#
Formula
1 b3 5 b7 9
Semitones
0 3 7 10 14
Chord symbols
Bm9, Bmin9
Also called
B Minor NinthBm9

How to read this arpeggio

The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent B root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.

Use the interactive fretboard to locate the B root notes and connect the remaining minor 9 chord tones across standard tuning.

This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called B Minor Ninth or Bm9.

Chord construction and defining tones

b3D
b7A
9C#

B minor 9 is defined by b3 (D), b7 (A), and 9 (C#). It extends a minor seventh chord with the natural ninth.

Harmonic use

Use this arpeggio over Bm9 and minor harmony where both the flat seventh and natural ninth are present.

Practice this arpeggio on guitar

  1. Play the B Minor 9 arpeggio from one B root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
  2. Practice b3 (D), b7 (A), and 9 (C#) without the root first, then add the nearest root to hear the full chord identity.
  3. Create a line over Bm9 that moves from the ninth through the flat seventh and resolves to the minor third.

Fretboard diagram

B Minor 9 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning
B Minor 9 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning.

Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool

Start with B Minor 9 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Arpeggio diagrams by tuning