How to Read Guitar Chord Diagrams
Learn how to read guitar chord diagrams quickly. Understand dots, numbers, Xs, Os, and finger positions so you can play any chord chart at sight.
Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions
Showing 8 of 40 playable shapes
Gmin7(♭9)/A♭ is the G minor 7th flat 9th / A♭ (4th inversion) guitar chord with A♭ in the bass. It uses the notes G, B♭, D, F, and A♭ and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7-♭9.
The G minor 7th flat 9th minor 7th flat 9th chord extends the minor 7th with a flat ninth A♭, creating a dark, eerie tension. The combination of the minor third B♭, minor seventh F, and flat ninth A♭ produces a dissonant, haunting sound perfect for jazz, film scoring, and dramatic resolutions. With A♭ in the bass, this voicing functions as the 4th inversion of G minor 7th flat 9th.
Also written as Gmin7(♭9), Gm7♭9/A♭, and Gm7(♭9)/A♭.
These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.
4x3333
453333
Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.
The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.
This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.
The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.
The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.
The flat ninth adds sharper tension and a more dramatic clash.
Gmin7(♭9)/A♭ uses the notes G, B♭, D, F, and A♭. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7-♭9.
Gmin7(♭9)/A♭ is also written as Gmin7(♭9), Gm7♭9/A♭, and Gm7(♭9)/A♭.
Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 6th string. Strum from the 6th string down.
Articles that reference this chord and explain how to use it in your playing.
Learn how to read guitar chord diagrams quickly. Understand dots, numbers, Xs, Os, and finger positions so you can play any chord chart at sight.
Learn chord construction step-by-step: intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions. Build any chord from theory to fretboard.
Learn chord inversions on guitar to create smoother transitions, richer voicings, and more professional-sounding arrangements. Includes shapes and exercises.
Understand the difference between major and minor chords on guitar. Learn the theory, hear the contrast, and practice switching between happy and sad sounds.