A7♭9

A7♭9 is the a dominant 7th flat 9 chord, spelled A – C♯ – E – G – B♭. a dominant with a dark flattened ninth — sharp tension that resolves with real drama, especially into minor.

The keys
C4C5C6
A – C♯ – E – G – B♭
Practise this chord

Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let Coach Tshepho drill you on A7♭9 — it plays the chord, names any wrong notes as you play, and moves you on when you nail it.

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What's inside A7♭9
NoteInterval from rootDegree
ARoot1
C♯Major 3rd3
EPerfect 5th5
GMinor 7thb7
B♭Flat 9thb9
A working voicing

Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:

HandKeys
Left (shell)A2 – G3
Right (colour)D♭5 – B♭5
Where A7♭9 lives

Hard resolution

A7♭9 → Dm9

Altered dominants resolve with maximum drama — especially into minor.

Chromatic approach

Em7 → A7♭9 → D

The alteration sharpens the pull of the standard two-five.

Put A7♭9 under your fingers

Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.

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Play it over a groove
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