D9 piano chord (D dominant 9th)
D – F♯ – A – C – E
Formula 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9
D9 inversions
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different one at the bottom. Use them to move to the next chord with the smallest hand movement.
Root position D9
D – F♯ – A – C – E
1st inversion D9/F♯
F♯ – A – C – E – D
2nd inversion D9/A
A – C – E – D – F♯
3rd inversion D9/C
C – E – D – F♯ – A
4th inversion D9/E
E – D – F♯ – A – C
D9 chord questions
What notes are in the D dominant 9th chord?
D9 is D, F♯, A, C, E. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9, counted from the root D.
How do you play D9 on piano?
With the right hand in root position, play D–F♯–A–C–E using all five fingers (1–5) (thumb on D). The full five-note shape spans more than an octave, so pianists usually play the root D in the left hand and F♯–A–C–E in the right.
What are the inversions of D9?
Root position: D–F♯–A–C–E; 1st inversion: F♯–A–C–E–D; 2nd inversion: A–C–E–D–F♯; 3rd inversion: C–E–D–F♯–A; 4th inversion: E–D–F♯–A–C.