Learn › Am9 Chord on Piano (A Minor 9th)
New Released in April 2026
Am9 Chord on Piano (A Minor 9th)
The A minor 9th chord (Am9) uses the piano keys A, C, E, G and B: the minor seventh Am7 plus the 9th, B. Expect a sound that is mellow and soulful, minor without sadness.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Am9 and Cmaj7
The four upper notes of Am9, C E G B, are Cmaj7. Play A low and Cmaj7 above it: that is the whole Am9, and a quick way to reach it.
Building Am9 from Am7
Start from Am7, which you may already know, and change one thing: add B above the minor seventh.
Start chord: Am7
| Note | Step | Interval | Keys from A |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | root | 0 |
| C | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| E | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
| B | 9 | major 9th | 14 |
Ways to place Am9 on the keys
Learn them in pairs: root position first, then the one that keeps the most notes still.
Both hands: A G C E B
Rootless, 3rd on the bottom: C E G B
Rootless, 7th on the bottom: G B C E
Left hand alone: A G
Fingering
| Left hand | A G | 5 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | C E B | 1 2 4 |
A short Am9 routine
- Say the notes out loud while you press them: A, C, E, G and B.
- Switch between Am7 and Am9 ten times without looking at your hand.
- Alternate root position and a rootless shape with the 3rd on the bottom, keeping shared notes still.
- Then test it in random order among other chords: recall under time pressure is what sticks.
Come back to Am9 tomorrow: short daily sessions beat one long one.
Keys and moves for Am9
- Am9 is the ii chord of G major and the vi chord of C major.
- In a ii-V-I it often opens the line: Am9 → D7 → Gmaj7.
Train Am9 with ChordRunner
ChordRunner shows a chord symbol and you play it on a MIDI keyboard, a real piano through the microphone or the on-screen keys. Major and minor 9ths have their own level, "Ninth Chords".
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play Am9 on the piano?
Press A, C, E, G and B together. Left hand plays A G (fingers 5 and 1), right hand C E B (1, 2, 4).
Is Am9 the same as Cmaj7?
Not quite: Cmaj7 (C E G B) is only the upper part of Am9. Add A underneath and you have the full Am9.
Where is Am9 used?
Am9 is the ii chord of G major and the vi chord of C major. In a ii-V-I it often opens the line: Am9 → D7 → Gmaj7.
Can I practise Am9 with a MIDI keyboard or a real piano?
Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic or digital piano works through the microphone. The game checks that A, C, E, G and B sound together.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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