B 9sus4 Chord

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Formula R – 9 – 4 – 5 – ♭7

B 9sus4 is built from the notes B, D♭, E, G♭, A. The interval from B to D♭ is a major 2nd (2 semitones), from B to E is a perfect 4th (5 semitones), from B to G♭ is a perfect 5th (7 semitones), from B to A is a minor 7th (10 semitones). This chord contains 2 flatted notes.

The 9sus4 is an extended version of the 7sus4 that adds a major 9th for extra color. It's a rich, lush chord that is a staple of jazz, soul, and funk — sophisticated tension without the bite.

Theory

Built from the root, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, minor 7th, and major 9th (R, 4, 5, ♭7, 9), this chord packs a lot of harmonic information. The 5th is often omitted in practice, making it functionally equivalent to playing a major triad a whole step below the root over the root bass note (e.g., F/G for G9sus4). Jazz musicians rely on 9sus4 chords as lush substitutes for standard dominant chords, creating a softer, less directional resolution.

On the guitar

Best played using movable extended voicings where the 5th can be comfortably dropped from the fingering. A practical shortcut: play a major triad one whole step below the root over that root as a bass note — instant 9sus4. This "triad over bass note" approach makes an otherwise complex chord very accessible.

Advanced

The 9sus4 is one of the most important modern jazz sounds. It replaces standard dominant chords for a softer, less directional resolution. In neo-soul, stacking 9sus4 voicings chromatically creates the silky, sliding effect heard in D'Angelo and Erykah Badu records. The chord also works beautifully as a static vamp — let it breathe without resolving.

Piano