How to play E♭ dominant 7th flat 9th chord on guitar
Shape bdbcb0
Shape characteristics
Open chord
Uses one or more open strings, giving the chord a bright, resonant ring and making it easier to hold for long passages.
Upper register · fret 11-13
Brighter, more focused tone with less low-end. Works well when layering over a bassist or second guitar, and integrates naturally with lead-line phrasing higher on the neck.
Full six-string voicing
All six strings ring, giving you the biggest, most resonant version of this chord, ideal for strumming and solo acoustic contexts.
Bass: E♭ · Top: F♭
The root is in the bass, so the chord sounds grounded and stable. This is the natural starting voicing for most progressions.
Shape bdb0b0 is the closest alternative voicing. Try both to see which fits better.
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position
- 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 12th fret of the 3rd string
- 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 5th string
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "bdbcb0" mean?
The sequence bdbcb0 is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this E♭ dominant 7th flat 9th shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a E♭ dominant 7th flat 9th chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for E♭ dominant 7th flat 9th. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?
Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.
Other shapes
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