Major ninth interval on C. Playⓘ
major ninth
Inverseminor seventh
Name
Other namescompound second
AbbreviationM9
Size
Semitones14
Cents
12-Tone equal temperament1400.0
Minor ninth interval on C. Playⓘ
minor ninth
Inversemajor seventh
Name
Abbreviationm9
Size
Semitones13
Cents
12-Tone equal temperament1300.0
Cmaj9 chord (see chord symbols) Playⓘ

In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second.

Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is an octave larger than a second, its sonority level is considered less dense.[1]

Major ninth

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A major ninth is a compound musical interval spanning 14 semitones, or an octave plus 2 semitones. If transposed into a single octave, it becomes a major second or minor seventh. The major ninth is somewhat dissonant in sound.

Transposition

Some common transposing instruments sound a major ninth lower than written. These include the tenor saxophone, the bass clarinet, the baritone/euphonium when written in treble clef, and the trombone when written in treble clef (British brass band music).

When baritone/euphonium or trombone parts are written in bass clef or tenor clef they sound as written.

Minor ninth

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A minor ninth (m9 or -9) is a compound musical interval spanning 13 semitones, or 1 semitone above an octave (thus it is enharmonically equivalent to an augmented octave). If transposed into a single octave, it becomes a minor second or major seventh. The minor ninth is rather dissonant in sound,[2] and in European classical music, often appears as a suspension. Béla Bartók wrote a study in minor 9ths for piano. The fourth movement (an intermezzo) of Robert Schumann's Faschingsschwank aus Wien is constructed to feature prominent notes of the melody a minor ninth above the accompaniment:

Schumann, Faschingsschwank Intermezzo, bars 1-4

[citation needed] Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 9, 'Black Mass' is based around the interval of a minor ninth, creating an uncomfortable and harsh sound.[citation needed] Several of Igor Stravinsky's works open with a striking gesture that includes the interval of a minor 9th, either as a chord: Les Noces (1923) and Threni (1958); or as an upward melodic leap: Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1929), Symphony in Three Movements (1946), and Movements for Piano and Orchestra (1960).

Augmented ninth

Augmented ninth on C. Playⓘ

An augmented ninth is a compound musical interval spanning 15 semitones, or 3 semitones above an octave. Enharmonically equivalent to a compound minor third, if transposed into a single octave, it becomes a minor third or major sixth.

See: Dominant seventh sharp ninth chord.

Ninth chords

Main article: Ninth chord
Dominant ninth chord on C. Playⓘ
Major ninth chord on C. Playⓘ
Minor ninth chord on C. Playⓘ

Three types of ninth chords may be distinguished: dominant (9), major (M9), and minor (m9).[3][4] They may easily be remembered as the chord quality of the seventh does not change with the addition of the second scale degree,[3] which is a major second in both major and minor, thus: 

0 4 7 t + 2 = dominant seventh + ninth = dominant ninth chord
0 4 7 e + 2 = major seventh + ninth = major ninth chord
0 3 7 t + 2 = minor seventh + ninth = minor ninth chord

The dominant ninth (V9) is a dominant seventh plus a major or minor ninth.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Westergaard, Peter (1975). An Introduction to Tonal Theory, p.74. W.W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-09342-1.
  2. ^ McCormick, Scott (18 January 2019). "The Lush World of Eleventh Chords". Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Bruce Buckingham, Eric Paschal (2001). Rhythm Guitar: The Complete Guide, p.58. ISBN 978-0-7935-8184-9.
  4. ^ Michael Miller (2004). Complete Idiot's Guide to Solos and Improvisation, p.51. ISBN 978-1-59257-210-6.
  5. ^ Helen S. Leavitt (1916). Practical Lesson Plans in Harmony, p.32. Ginn and Company. "In major keys the dominant ninth is usually major, though occasionally it is chromatically altered to a minor. In minor keys a similar chromatic change from minor to major takes places."
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