Fmmaj9

FmMaj9 is F, Ab, C, E and G, a minor major ninth. The shape this page opens on is written 132113, lowest string first.

Also written FmM9, Fm(maj9) or F-Δ9. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 9 common shapes for FmMaj9 on the guitar, and 34 derived voicings in 5 families.

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 132113, xx3054, 333554, x8698x, 8-11-10-9-8-8, 13-11-x-12-13-0, 13-11-x-12-13-12, 13-11-14-12-x-x, 13-15-14-13-13-15.

Shell. Root, third and seventh: the guide tones fix the quality, so the fifth is dropped. That is what leaves a string free, so pick a tension to put on top. FmMaj9 has xx3153, x8698x, 13-11-14-12-x-x.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. FmMaj9 has xx3153, x8698x, 13-11-14-12-x-x, 4859xx, xx5964, x-10-14-10-9-x, x-x-14-12-9-13.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. FmMaj9 has 3x315x, x-10-x-10-9-12, x8x984, 4x596x, 13-x-14-12-9-x.

Rootless. The root left to the bass player. Frees a finger for a tension. FmMaj9 has xx2113, xx5554, x-10-10-9-9-x, x-x-14-13-13-15, x3x153, x3515x, x7x584, x7658x.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. FmMaj9 has 0x0064, 4x0060, 4x005x, 4700xx, 0560xx, 0x606x.

Tensions. A shell of FmMaj9, root, third and seventh, leaves a string free, and the tones that belong over it are the 11 (Bb) and the 13 (D).

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.