Guitar · voicings
Rootless 9 voicings on guitar
Rootless 9 (3–5–♭7–9). As a close stack it spans more than a hand, so it is played as drop 2 of each inversion. Practice Lab's voicing search finds 12 shapes, every one movable: drawn here on C (E, G, B♭, D), each plays any key moved to it, as the table below shows.
| Note | E | G | B♭ | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | 3 | 5 | ♭7 | 9 |
From the bass: G D E B♭ (5 9 3 ♭7)
Strings 6, 5, 4 and 3
Grip 3-5-2-3-x-x · frets 2–5Strings 5, 4, 3 and 2
Grip x-10-12-9-11-x · frets 9–12Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-5-7-5-6 · frets 5–7Show 1 more string setShow less
Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-5-7-5-6 · frets 5–7From the bass: B♭ E G D (♭7 3 5 9)
Strings 6, 5, 4 and 3
Grip 6-7-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7Strings 5, 4, 3 and 2
Grip x-13-14-12-15-x · frets 12–15Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-8-9-8-10 · frets 8–10Show 1 more string setShow less
Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-8-9-8-10 · frets 8–10From the bass: D G B♭ E (9 5 ♭7 3)
Strings 6, 5, 4 and 3
Grip 10-10-8-9-x-x · frets 8–10Strings 5, 4, 3 and 2
Grip x-5-5-3-5-x · frets 3–5Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-12-12-11-12 · frets 11–12Show 1 more string setShow less
Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-12-12-11-12 · frets 11–12From the bass: E B♭ D G (3 ♭7 9 5)
Strings 6, 5, 4 and 3
Grip 12-13-12-12-x-x · frets 12–13Strings 5, 4, 3 and 2
Grip x-7-8-7-8-x · frets 7–8Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-2-3-3-3 · frets 2–3Show 1 more string setShow less
Strings 4, 3, 2 and 1
Grip x-x-2-3-3-3 · frets 2–3Where the shapes start in every key
The fret of each shape's lowest note, between fret 1 and 12, by the string it is on and the degree it plays.
| Key | String 4 (3) | String 4 (5) | String 4 (♭7) | String 4 (9) | String 5 (3) | String 5 (5) | String 5 (♭7) | String 5 (9) | String 6 (3) | String 6 (5) | String 6 (♭7) | String 6 (9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| D♭ | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| D | 4 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| E♭ | 5 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
| E | 6 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| F | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| F♯ | 8 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 4 |
| G | 9 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 |
| A♭ | 10 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
| A | 11 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 7 |
| B♭ | 12 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| B | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
Scales with Rootless 9 on C in them
Scale pages on the same root that hold every note of the voicing.
Use it in a progression
Progression pages with a chord on C it can voice, with the numeral it plays.
- ii–V–I in F (C7 as V7)
- ii–V–I in F minor (C7 as V7)
- I–vi–ii–V in F (C7 as V)
- Autumn Leaves (C7 as 27b)
- Rhythm changes (C7 as 21)
- Blues in F (C7 as 9)
Practice it in Practice Lab
Practice Rootless 9 voicings in every key, at your tempo, with a plan that adapts. Free, in your browser, no account.
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