Banjo · Level 8 · Advanced
Altered dominant chords in E♭ major on Banjo
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Altered dominants add a raised or lowered ninth to V7 for extra tension before resolving. The 7♯9 is also the famous "Hendrix chord".
Fm7
Notes: F · A♭ · C · E♭
B♭7♯9
Notes: B♭ · D · F · A♭ · C♯
E♭maj7
Notes: E♭ · G · B♭ · D
B♭7b9
Notes: B♭ · D · F · A♭ · C♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Fm7, B♭7♯9, E♭maj7 and B♭7b9. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- The short fifth string (g) is only played open; let it ring when it fits the chord.
- Set the tempo to 69 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Compare the ♯9 and ♭9 versions back to back over the same ii and I.
- Pinch the bass and top strings on beat one, then roll thumb–index–middle through the other strings.
- Raise the tempo to 92 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the sharper bite of ♯9 and the darker pull of ♭9.
Listen for
Aim for the sharper bite of ♯9 and the darker pull of ♭9. A common mistake is resolving too early, before the tension registers.
Why it works
Altered ninths are a half step away from chord tones of I, so they resolve by the smallest possible step.
E♭ major has 3 flats; its relative minor key is C minor.
Questions
What are the chords in ii7–V7♯9–Imaj7 / ii7–V7♭9–Imaj7 in E♭ major?
In E♭ major the progression is Fm7 | B♭7♯9 | E♭maj7 | E♭maj7 | Fm7 | B♭7b9 | E♭maj7 | E♭maj7.
What is the key signature of E♭ major?
E♭ major has 3 flats. Its relative minor is C minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 8 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “Dominant thirteenth chords”.
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