Amaj9
A Major 9th
1 3 5 7 9
Notes in Amaj9
AR
C♯3
E5
A♭7
B9
The Amaj9 chord contains 5 notes: A, C♯, E, A♭, B
Intervals
| Interval | Semitones | Note | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 0 | A | Root |
| 3 | 4 | C♯ | Major 3rd |
| 5 | 7 | E | Perfect 5th |
| 7 | 11 | A♭ | Major 7th |
| 9 | 2 | B | Major 9th |
About A Major 9th Chords
Major 9th chords combine maj7 with a 9th for a lush, sophisticated sound. They appear frequently in jazz ballads, bossa nova, and contemporary R&B. Steely Dan built entire careers on maj9 voicings.
Compatible Scales & Modes
These scales contain all the notes of Amaj9 and can be used for soloing, improvising, and writing melodies over this chord.
A Lydian
Beautiful over maj9 chords — the ♯4 adds sophistication without clashing.
A Ionian
Works perfectly. The 9th is a natural scale tone.