E9 piano chord (E dominant 9th)
E – G♯ – B – D – F♯
Formula 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9
E9 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 E9
E – G♯ – B – D – F♯
1st inversion E9/G♯
G♯ – B – D – F♯ – E
2nd inversion E9/B
B – D – F♯ – E – G♯
3rd inversion E9/D
D – F♯ – E – G♯ – B
4th inversion E9/F♯
F♯ – E – G♯ – B – D
E9 chord questions
What notes are in the E dominant 9th chord?
E9 is E, G♯, B, D, F♯. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9, counted from the root E.
How do you play E9 on piano?
With the right hand in root position, play E–G♯–B–D–F♯ using all five fingers (1–5) (thumb on E). The full five-note shape spans more than an octave, so pianists usually play the root E in the left hand and G♯–B–D–F♯ in the right.
What are the inversions of E9?
Root position: E–G♯–B–D–F♯; 1st inversion: G♯–B–D–F♯–E; 2nd inversion: B–D–F♯–E–G♯; 3rd inversion: D–F♯–E–G♯–B; 4th inversion: F♯–E–G♯–B–D.