9th chords are 5-note chords that include the root of the chord, the 3rd, the 5th, the 7th (dominant 7th, not major 7th) and the 9th. People with large hands can play them with one hand using all five fingers, but for most of us, including me, we need to devise a way to play a 9th chord all in the left hand while our right hand is playing the melody of the song, or improvising a melody.

To do that, take any major chord and put it in second inversion. That means the root of the chord is in the middle, with the 5th below and the 3rd above. Then add the 7th degree of the scale (the dominant 7th, not the major 7th) and then move your index finger up a whole step to the 9th.

Watch this short video as I demonstrate:

Thanks – see you tomorrow with another piano tip.

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