Guitar · Level 8 · Advanced
Altered dominant chords in B major on Guitar
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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".
C♯m7
Notes: C♯ · E · G♯ · B
F♯7♯9
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E · G𝄪
Bmaj7
Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · A♯
F♯7b9
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E · G
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: C♯m7, F♯7♯9, Bmaj7 and F♯7b9. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Press just behind the fret with your fingertips and keep the thumb relaxed behind the neck.
- 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.
- Strum down on every beat at first, then try down–down–up–up–down–up.
- 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.
B major has 5 sharps; its relative minor key is G♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in ii7–V7♯9–Imaj7 / ii7–V7♭9–Imaj7 in B major?
In B major the progression is C♯m7 | F♯7♯9 | Bmaj7 | Bmaj7 | C♯m7 | F♯7b9 | Bmaj7 | Bmaj7.
What is the key signature of B major?
B major has 5 sharps. Its relative minor is G♯ 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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