Extended Chords

9ths, 11ths, 13ths

20 min

Beyond Sevenths

Extended chords stack additional thirds on top of seventh chords:

9th chords = 7th chord + 9th (same as the 2nd, an octave up)
11th chords = 9th chord + 11th (same as the 4th)
13th chords = 11th chord + 13th (same as the 6th)

In practice, guitar voicings omit some notes (usually the 5th and sometimes the root, since a bass player covers it). You don't play all 5-7 notes — you select the most important ones.

These chords sound rich, complex, and sophisticated. They're the bread and butter of jazz, funk, R&B, and neo-soul. A dominant 9th chord (like E9) is one of the quintessential funk sounds.

Practical Voicings

On guitar, the most useful extended chord voicings are:

9th chords: add the 9th (2nd) to a seventh chord voicing — often by replacing the 5th or root
Add9: simpler version — just the triad plus the 9th, no 7th
13th chords: often voiced as the root, 3rd, 7th, and 13th — four notes that capture the essential sound

You don't need to play every extension. A "13th chord" often just means a 7th chord with the 13th added. Context and the bass player fill in the rest.

Tab Examples

A9:         E9:         Cmaj9:      Dm11:
e|--0--|   e|--0--|   e|--0--|   e|--1--|
B|--2--|   B|--2--|   B|--3--|   B|--1--|
G|--0--|   G|--1--|   G|--4--|   G|--2--|
D|--2--|   D|--0--|   D|--2--|   D|--3--|
A|--0--|   A|--2--|   A|--3--|   A|--0--|
E|-----|   E|--0--|   E|-----|   E|-----|

Practical voicings that sound full without requiring 6 different notes.

Tips

You don't play all the notes — select the ones that define the chord

The 3rd and 7th are the most important notes in any extended chord

9th chords are essential for funk and R&B

13th chords are the ultimate jazz and soul voicing

Practice Exercises

Learn A9 and E9 — use them in a blues or funk context

Replace seventh chords with ninth chords in jazz progressions

Try Cmaj9 in place of Cmaj7 — hear the added shimmer

Experiment with partial voicings — try playing just root, 3rd, 7th, and 9th

Beyond Sevenths

Practical Voicings

Tab Examples

Common extended chord voicings

Tips

Practice Exercises

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