B♭7♭9

Bb Dominant 7th Flat 9 — a dominant with a dark flattened ninth — sharp tension that resolves with real drama, especially into minor.

The keys
C4C5C6
B♭ – D – F – A♭ – C♭
What's inside B♭7♭9
NoteInterval from rootDegree
B♭Root1
DMajor 3rd3
FPerfect 5th5
A♭Minor 7thb7
C♭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)B♭2 – A♭3
Right (colour)D5 – B5
Where B♭7♭9 lives

Hard resolution

B♭7♭9 → E♭m9

Altered dominants resolve with maximum drama — especially into minor.

Chromatic approach

Fm7 → B♭7♭9 → E♭

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

Put B♭7♭9 under your fingers

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

Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →