The Power of The 9th Note

ByDaniel Weiss

[Music]
Adding this one note to any arpeggio, chord, or triad you play makes it way more musical. Stick till the end to see how you can apply it too, like this one, or this one, or this one, and this one.

So, what do all of these have in common? They all include a nine or a two—essentially the second degree after the root.

Application
I did add a major seven in there, but the great sound you’re getting comes from the nine. For example, replacing the root with a two gives you the nine. If you use a chord substitute, you get the same result. Two and nine are the same thing since the music octave represents the eight. For instance, if you’re playing C, the octave of eight will be the same as the two or nine.

Arpeggios and Melodies
What’s interesting is how arpeggios and melodies form with these notes. In my Galactic Modern Guitar series, there’s a section on how to voice lead add9 arpeggios, which results in a very melodic flow. This also works on minor chords. All these sounds are really beautiful.

Once you know your triads on the guitar, you can start forming arpeggios and phrases all over the neck. For example, if you take an E triad and want to include the nine, recognize where the root is. You can either change the root into a two, or modify the chord to a sus2 while still getting an F#.

Examples and Practice
Looking at the root position of E, you can change the root to get this sound or lower the third to get a sus2 sound. Similarly, for the first inversion of A, you can change the root or lower the third to get a sus2.

If you take a D chord and make it a sus2 by lowering the third, you can also replace the root to get a new sound. Forming these chords and seeing them across the neck adds color to your playing.

For example, if you take an A minor chord, replacing the root with a two gives you a beautiful sound. Alternatively, lowering the third gives a different sound.

Galactic Modern Guitar Course
To master all the options and really understand these concepts, check out my Galactic Modern Guitar course. It covers all the triads, arpeggios, and how to integrate them into melodies.

Practice
You can start with an A minor arpeggio and add the second degree to get this sound. Once you’re comfortable with these, apply them to a progression or song, like a simple 1-4-5 progression in C (C, F, G).

Outro
Adding just one note to your triads can greatly enhance your playing. If you’re interested in joining Galactic Modern Guitar, now is the time as it’s 30% off. Check the link in the description. For a cool arpeggio workout video, click here. Enjoy the music, have fun, and be inspired!

[Music]

Unleashing the Power of the “Nine”.

How to Incorporate the 9th note / 2nd Degree Into Your Playing.

Are you looking to add a rich and expressive sound to your playing? Incorporating the 9th note or 2nd degree, into your chord progressions and melodies can be the key. Whether you’re playing a major or minor chord, adding the 9th note can add depth and color to your sound.

To get started, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the location of the different chord’s 9th note on your instrument’s neck and how to incorporate it into your chord voicings and melodies. Practice and study can help you master the art of using the 9th note to add expression and interest to your music. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different voicings and melodies – the 9th note can take your playing to the next level.

The 9th is a commonly used note in music theory that adds depth and expression into your playing. It is the 2nd degree of the scale and is the same as the 2nd degree of the natural minor scale in a major scale. For example, the 9th in the key of C major is D and in the key of A minor it is B.

The 9th note is often used in chord progressions and melodies to add color and interest to the sound. It can be added to a chord by replacing the root with the 9th note or by lowering the third to create a sus2 voicing. For example, an E major chord can be voiced as E-G#-B or as F#-G#-B, creating an E9 or an Esus2 chord, respectively.

In melodies, the 9th note can add a sense of resolution or tension depending on how it is used in relation to the chord progression. For example, when used over a dominant chord, the 9th creates tension that is resolved into the root of the next chord.

Incorporating the 9th note of the chord into your playing can add depth and expression to your music. It’s an important concept to understand and can significantly enhance your playing with practice and study. So don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different voicings and melodies with the 9th note – it can take your playing to the next level!

  • The 9th or 2nd degree, adds depth and expression to your playing
  • Familiarize yourself with the location of the 9th on your instrument’s neck and how to incorporate it into your chord voicings and melodies
  • The 9th can be added to chords by replacing the root or lowering the third to create a sus2 voicing
  • In melodies, the 9th can add a sense of resolution or tension depending on how it is used in relation to the chord progression
  • Incorporating the 9th into your playing can enhance your music with practice and study
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with different voicings and melodies using the 9th.
Daniel Weiss