About the G flat seven flat nine chord
The G flat seven flat nine chord is a G flat dominant seventh flat nine built from G flat, B flat, D flat, F flat, A double flat. It sits outside the plain diatonic set, so it is borrowed to add color and tension.
It is also written F sharp seven flat nine , which spells the same notes enharmonically.
Positions
(root position)
Notes and intervals
| 1 | G flat | Root |
| 2 | B flat | Major 3rd |
| 3 | D flat | Perfect 5th |
| 4 | F flat | Minor 7th |
| 5 | A double flat | Minor 9th |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Other G flat chords
Simpler triads
Suspended
Sixths and sevenths
Extensions
Altered
Functional relationships
These chords are where this one most naturally comes from and resolves to inside a key.
Relative minor
The relative minor uses the same notes and key signature, so it works as a calmer, darker home base.
Parallel minor
The parallel minor keeps the same root note but lowers the third, giving the same key a darker, sadder sound.
Dominant
The dominant is a fifth above the root, and it builds tension that pulls strongly back to this chord.
Subdominant
The subdominant is a fourth above the root (a fifth below), and it usually leads on to the dominant or back home.
Tritone substitution
The tritone substitution is a dominant chord a tritone away that shares the same tension, so it can stand in for this chord and resolve the same way.
