F Dominant Ninth Chord
Chord Tones: F Dominant Ninth Chord
Symbol: 9 — Formula: 1-3-5-♭7-9
| Degree | Note | Frequency (A=440, Equal) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 3 | A | 440.000 Hz |
| 5 | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭7 | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 9 | G | 391.995 Hz |
Chord Notation
| Notation Type | Symbol / Value |
|---|---|
| Lead Sheet Symbol | F9 |
| All Common Symbols | 9 |
| Interval Formula | 1-3-5-♭7-9 |
| Harmonic Category | tense |
Roman numeral (e.g. I, IV, V) and Nashville Number notation are key-dependent. See Keys pages for chord function within specific keys.
Inversions
| Inversion | Notes (low to high) | Bass Note | Slash Notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root Position | F – A – C – Eb – G | F | F Dominant Ninth Chord |
| First Inversion | A – C – Eb – G – F | A | F Dominant Ninth Chord/A |
| Second Inversion | C – Eb – G – F – A | C | F Dominant Ninth Chord/C |
| Third Inversion | Eb – G – F – A – C | Eb | F Dominant Ninth Chord/Eb |
| Fourth Inversion | G – F – A – C – Eb | G | F Dominant Ninth Chord/G |
Harmonic Function
The F dominant ninth chord commonly functions as the subdominant (IV) in C major — plagal cadence endpoint. Its harmonic role varies by key — in major keys it provides stable harmonic grounding.
The dominant ninth chord extends the dominant seventh with a ninth, adding color and richness to one of music's most harmonically active chords. Essential in jazz, blues, and funk.
Common Progressions
The F Dominant Ninth Chord frequently appears in these progression patterns (shown in Roman numeral notation relative to key):
V9-Iii9-V9-I
Songs Featuring the Dominant Ninth Chord
Well-known songs where the F Dominant Ninth Chord — or this chord type — plays a prominent role:
- Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
- What's Going On – Marvin Gaye
- Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Scales Containing the F Dominant Ninth Chord
These scales include the F Dominant Ninth Chord as a diatonic or characteristic chord: