Dominant seventh flat ninth chord

[alanclare]

What's the best way to play one of these on a PSR arranger? It consists of five notes and the span from first to flattened ninth is too big for my hands. I always play an added ninth chord by adding the second instead, but flattening the second doesn't sound right.

Alan

[mikf]

Alan
It is not really practical to play these chords in your lh, even for a very good player. I play 7b9ths a lot but usually use full keyboard so I finger across both hands. But you can also get it sounding pretty good by fingering a simple lh chord, and adding note to your rh to sound the chord. These chords are usually short duration passing chords so it comes out fine to the ear which is what matters.
Mike

[alanclare]

Mike

Thank you for your informative reply which seemed to come back almost as soon as I'd finished asking the question!

Alan

[whataguy]

Drop the root and play it in the 2nd inversion. Don in MI

[andyg]

7b9 chords are easily done in AI Fingered mode. Played with what might best be described as a 'cluster' of notes, close together.

Examples: D7b9 - C D Eb F#   G7b9 = F G Ab B

You're omitting the 5th when you play these chords, so the others should be easy enough to work out.

[alanclare]

My thanks to all three of you. I shall take these suggestions and try them out, once I've irganised some ice to cool my fevered brow.

Alan

[alanclare]

Andy

I can see how your suggestion will work. Does the screen actually display seventh flattened ninth when you use that fingering?

Alan

[whataguy]

Hey Alan just replace the chord with "R" major, it works for everything. D.

[andyg]

Andy

I can see how your suggestion will work. Does the screen actually display seventh flattened ninth when you use that fingering?

Alan

Oops, a bit late with the reply, but yes it will display the chord name correctly.

[alanclare]

Andy

Thank you. "Better late than never", as my old Ma used to say.

Alan

[whataguy]

The chord in question, when it does appear in a score, only appears for one or two notes in ONE measure. That being noted, it would seem that it would be far easier to just cough or glance at the ceiling for that short period of time. Who'd know? Don in MI

[alanclare]

I prefer the "R" major technique. I feels more natural.

Al

[whataguy]

Yeah, what about R7b9th??

[alanclare]

Yeah, what about R7b9th??

I give up. My brain's hurting.